- Nigeria celebrates 64 years of independence on October 1, marking the end of British colonial rule in 1960
- Known as the “Giant of Africa,” Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, led the country in its early years of sovereignty
- TheRadar compiled 64 amazing historical facts about the nation in celebration of her independence
October 1 marks 64 years since Nigeria gained independence from the British, ending decades of colonial rule.
Known as the “Giant of Africa,” Nigeria officially became a free nation in 1960, transitioning to a British-style parliamentary system with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as its first prime minister.
Nigeria’s independence was a hard-fought victory, and today, the country, once a British colony, has grown into one of Africa's most influential nations.
As the country celebrates this milestone, TheRadar compiled amazing facts about the nation.
64 facts about Nigeria on its 64th Independence anniversary
Here are 64 historical facts about the Republic of Nigeria:
1. Flora Shaw coined the name “Nigeria in 1897
On 8 January 1897, the name “Nigeria” was coined by Flora Shaw whose husband, Lord Lugard, was a British soldier who played a key role in Nigeria's amalgamation and became its first Governor-General. She was inspired by the River Niger, joining the words “Niger” and “Area” to form the name, “Nigeria.”
2. Lugard merged protectorates to form Nigeria’s territory in 1914
The territory now recognised as Nigeria was established in 1914 when British governor-general Frederick Lugard merged the Northern and Southern Protectorates (amalgamation) to create the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria.
3. Enahoro proposed Nigeria's independence in 1953, granted in 1960
Enahoro was the first to propose Nigeria’s independence motion in 1953, which was granted in 1960 after overcoming significant political hurdles and setbacks in the legislature. This has led many scholars and Nigerians to label him the “Father of Nigeria State.”
4. Northern British Cameroon opted for Nigeria in 1961
In 1961, British Cameroonians were asked to choose between Nigeria and Cameroon. The predominantly Muslim northern region opted to join Nigeria, while the largely Christian southern part merged with the Republic of Cameroon, resulting in the formation of the Federal Republic of Cameroon.
5. Nigeria became a federal republic in 1963
On October 1, 1963, Nigeria established itself as a republic, with Nnamdi Azikiwe serving as its first president. The country had started as a parliamentary democracy under the leadership of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Governor-Generals Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sir James Wilson Robertson, but adopted a new constitution that transformed it into a federal republic.
6. Nigeria’s first military coup happened in 1966
A group of UK-trained army majors staged Nigeria's first military coup on January 15, 1966, overthrew the democratic government. This led to nearly three decades of oppressive military rule until democracy was restored in 1999.
7. Nigeria adopted a national currency system in 1973
Following Nigeria’s transition to a republic in 1963, the banknotes were updated to represent the nation’s renewed identity.
The year 1973 marked a significant moment for Nigeria as it embraced a national currency system, breaking free from the pounds and shillings of the imperial system inherited from its British colonial past.
This change brought about the Naira (N) and kobo (k) denominations, with banknotes being issued in four different values: 50 kobo, N1, N5, and N10.
8. Nigeria is located in West Africa and shares borders with countries such as Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Benin.
9. Nigeria’s two major rivers, which form a significant part of the map, and make a confluence are the River Niger and River Benue.
10. The River Niger is Africa's third-longest river after the Nile and the Congo.
11. The coldest places in Nigeria include Gembu in Taraba State, Mangu in Plateau State, Pankshin in Plateau State, Jos in Plateau State, Funtua in Katsina State, and Obudu in Cross River State.
12. The Super Eagles, Nigeria’s national football team, has won the Africa Cup of Nations three times - 1980, 1994 and 2013.
13. Fela Kuti, a Nigerian music legend, pioneered the Afrobeat genre.
14. An annual festival called Felabration is held in Lagos to celebrate the life and legacy of Nigerian music icon Fela Kuti.
15. Nigeria is home to global music stars such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Asake, Tiwa Savage, Fireboy, Rema and Tems.
16. Nigerian artistes, including the aforementioned, have sold out major venues around the world, such as London’s O2 Arena and New York’s Madison Square Garden, showcasing the global appeal of Nigerian music, popularly called Afrobeats.
17. Nigeria has a diverse landscape, with tropical rainforests, savannas, and arid regions.
18. Nigeria operates a bicameral federal legislature consisting of the House of Senate (109 members) and House of Representatives (360 members).
19. Nigeria’s highest point is Chappal Waddi, (also known as the Mountain of Death) which stands at 2,419 meters. It is located in Taraba State near the border with Cameroon.
20. Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones, namely: South South, South East, South West, North Central, North West, and North East.
21. Islam arrived in Nigeria through the Northern region through trans-Saharan trade routes in the 11th century.
22. Christianity was introduced to Nigeria in the 15th century by Portuguese missionaries.
23. The first church in Nigeria was the Methodist Church, Badagry, which was established in 1842. It was spearheaded by Reverend Thomas Berth Freeman.
24. The religion spread in Nigeria sees Islam as the majority with about 50% stake while Christianity is about 46%, the rest spread among other religions.
25. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is believed to be Nigeria’s busiest highway.
26. Nigeria is home to the first black African Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Wole Soyinka, which the Ogun-born icon won in 1986.
27. Nigerian graduates are mandated to take up a mandatory one-year programme after the completion of their university degree or Higher National Diploma. The scheme was introduced in 1973.
28. Nigeria’s out-of-school children clocked 18.3 million in 2024, according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
29. The first university in Nigeria was the University of Ibadan, which was established in 1948.
30. Nigeria also boasts of rich and tour-worthy national parks such as the Old Oyo National Park, Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Kainji National Park, Cross River National Park, Okomu National Park, Kamuku National Park and Yankari Game Reserve.
31. The three most populous ethnic groups are Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa.
32. The Yoruba people are known for their rich traditions of art, including textiles and beadwork while the Igbo have a tradition of masquerade dances, known as Mmanwu, which depict spirits and ancestors. The Hausas are known for their horse parades, traditional dances and sports.
33. Some of the most reputable festivals in Nigeria include Argungu fishing festival, Osun-Osogbo festival, Ojude Oba festival, Calabar festival, New Yam festival, Durbar festival, Ofala festival and Eyo festival.
34. Olusegun Obasanjo was Nigeria's first military ruler to also emerge as a a civilian president. He became a civilian president in 1999.
35. Following in the footsteps of Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler, also returned to power as a civilian president in 2015.
36. Military ruler General Sani Abacha is widely acclaimed to be Nigeria’s most terrifying leader and embezzled humongous sums of money, out of which Nigeria has officially reclaimed $5 billion. He ruled for five years, 1993-1998.
37. Nigeria’s first president - a ceremonial role at the time - was Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was born in modern-day Niger State to Anambra indigene parents.
38. The country operates a presidential system of government, modelled after the United States system. It was adopted in 1979.
39. Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world, with a headcount of over 230 million people. It is also the sixth most populous nation in the world, recently overtaking Brazil.
40. The area now known as Nigeria was home to several ancient kingdoms, including the Nok civilisation (500 BC–200 AD).
40. The Kingdom of Benin, which existed from around the 11th century, is one of Nigeria’s oldest surviving kingdoms. It is famous for its arts and sculptures.
41. The Sokoto Caliphate, founded in 1804, was one of the largest empires in Africa before the British colonisation.
42. Nigeria was part of the transatlantic slave trade, with millions of its citizens enslaved and sent to abroad.
43. Nigeria’s only civil war happened between 1967 and 1970. It was between the Nigerian state and the seceding Biafra nation. The Biafra nation mainly comprised the South Eastern region. The war reportedly claimed over three million lives.
44. Nigeria’s youngest-ever head of state is General Yakubu Gowon, who assumed the apex office in the country at age 31. It was during his tenure that the civil war broke out.
45. The country is home to more than 250 ethnic groups.
46. Nigeria is a multilingual country, with over 500 languages spoken among its citizens
47. English is Nigeria’s official language, a legacy of the British colonialists.
48. Lagos is the most populous city in the country and in Africa, with over 25 million residents.
49. However, despite the huge population, Lagos is by far the smallest state by land mass in the country.
50. The largest state by land mass in Nigeria is Niger, which is located in the North Central region.
51. Nigeria is one of the largest producers of crude oil in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
52. Nigeria is the 15th largest oil producer in the world.
53. Oil was discovered in Nigeria in 1956 in Oloibiri, present-day Bayelsa State.
54. In 2019, Genevieve Nnaji's family drama, “Lionheart” became the first Nigerian film to be submitted for the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category.
55. The Hausa-Fulani people enjoy dishes such as tuwo shinkafa and miyan kuka.
56. The Igbo people are known for dishes like fufu, bitter leaf soup, and ofe nsala.
57. Nigeria is the largest producer of yams in the world, believed to be responsible for up to 70% of the world's production.
58. Nigeria is one of the world's largest producers of cassava.
59. Pounded yam and egusi soup is a popular dish in Nigeria, especially among the Yoruba people.
60. Jollof rice is one of Nigeria’s most famous dishes and has been the subject of rivalry between Nigeria and other African countries, especially Ghana.
61. Nigeria is home to several endemic species, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. They include the Ibadan Malimbe bird (Malimbus ibadanensis), Jos Plateau indigobird (Vidua maryae ) and the Niger Delta red colobus monkey.
62. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who assumed power on May 29, 2023, is Nigeria’s 16th head of state. He hails from Lagos State, having served as a two-time governor of the state, between 1999 and 2007.
63. Nigeria has one of the most vibrant media spaces in Africa, with hundreds of newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, and online platforms operating across the country.
64. TheRadar is one of the prestigious media companies in Nigeria that covers both local news and international stories.
Know your rights: 10 freedoms the Nigerian constitution guarantees a citizen
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that knowing your rights empowers you to protect yourself and others from injustices and abuses.
The report compiled the fundamental human rights of Nigerians as the country celebrates the International Day of Democracy on September 15.