Back to: History Primary 2
Hello, my brilliant young learner! How are you today? I hope you’re feeling great and ready to learn about a Nigerian leader who was brave, smart, and determined to make Nigeria better. His name was General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, and he was one of Nigeria’s most famous Heads of State. Let’s discover his story!
General Murtala Muhammed – The Bold and Visionary Leader
Have you ever seen a leader who worked so hard to change things quickly? Some leaders take years to make an impact, but General Murtala Muhammed changed Nigeria in just six months! He became Nigeria’s Head of State in 1975, and although his time in power was short, his ideas and leadership are still remembered today.
Murtala Ramat Muhammed was born on November 8, 1938, in Kano, Nigeria. He was a brilliant and disciplined young boy who later joined the Nigerian Army. He quickly became known as a brave and fearless soldier.
On July 29, 1975, he became Nigeria’s Head of State after a group of military officers removed General Yakubu Gowon from power. As soon as he became leader, Murtala Muhammed started making big changes to improve Nigeria.
Some of the major things he did were:
Fighting against corruption – He removed dishonest government officials and made sure that only hardworking people were in power.
Creating new states – He created seven new states, making Nigeria’s government more organised.
Planning to move Nigeria’s capital – He decided that Nigeria’s capital should move from Lagos to Abuja, because Lagos was too crowded. This plan was later completed in 1991.
Supporting African freedom – He strongly supported African countries that were still fighting for independence, especially Angola.
Sadly, his leadership was cut short when he was assassinated on February 13, 1976, in Lagos. Despite his short time in power, he is still remembered as a fearless and visionary leader who wanted Nigeria to be great.
Imagine if your school had a head boy or head girl who saw that things were not going well and quickly made big, bold decisions to improve everything. That was exactly what Murtala Muhammed did for Nigeria—he took action, fought corruption, and wanted a better future for the country.
Conclusion
General Murtala Muhammed was a bold, courageous, and visionary leader who made quick and powerful changes in Nigeria. Even though he was in power for only six months, his impact is still felt today.
Evaluation
Let’s see what you have learned! Answer these questions:
Where was Murtala Muhammed born?
In what year did he become Nigeria’s Head of State?
What major decision did he make about Nigeria’s capital?
How did he fight against corruption?
When was he assassinated?
Great job, my brilliant learner! Remember, true leaders take action and make a difference, just like Murtala Muhammed. Keep believing in yourself, keep learning, and see you in the next exciting lesson with Afrilearn!
School Owner? Grow your school with Africa's most trusted school management + content platformGet more class notes, videos, homework help, exam practice on Android [DOWNLOAD]
Get more class notes, videos, homework help, exam practice on iPhone [DOWNLOAD]