HISTORY OF NIGERIA,HER INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT AND MORE.

  HISTORY OF NIGERIA, HER INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT AND MORE.

Islam reached Nigeria through the Borno Empire between (1068AD) and Housa state around (1385AD) during the 11th century. While Christianity came to Nigeria in the 15th century. through AUGUSTINIAN and CAPUCHIN MONKS from Portugal. The Songhai Empire also occupied part of the region. From the 15th century, European slave traders arrived in the region to purchase enslaved Africans as part of the Atlantic slave trade, which started in the region. Of modern-day Nigeria; the first Nigerian port used by European slave traders was BADAGRY a caostal harbour. Local Merchants provided them with slaves escalating conflicts among the ethnic groups in the region and disrupting older trade patterns through the Transaharan route.

The history of Nigeria can be traced to settlers trading across the middle East and Africa as  early as 1100 BC. Numerous ancient African civilizations settle in the region that is known today as Nigeria, such as the kingdom of Nri, the Benin Empire, and the Oyo Empire.

Lagos was occupied by British forces in 1851and formally annexed by Britian in the year 1865. Nigeria became a British protectorate in 1960, when an independence movement led to the country being granted independence. Nigeria first became a republic in 1963,  but succumbed to military rule three years later, after a bloody Coup d'état. A separatist movement later formed the  Republic of Biafra in 1967, leading to the three -year Nigerian Civil War.

Nigeria became a Republic one again after a new constitution was written in 1979. However the Republic was short-lived, as the military seized power again and ruled for ten years. A new Republic was planned to be established in 1993, but was aborted by General Sani Abacha. Abacha died in 1998 and a fourth Republic was later established the following year which ended three decades of Intermittent military rule.                                     

      INDEPENDENCT OF NIGERIA

Nigeria was granted independence on October 1, 1960. A new constitution establishe a federal system of government with an elected Prime Minister and a Ceremonial head of state. The NCNC, now headed by Azikiwe (who had taken control after Macaulay's death in 1940), formed a coalition with Balewa's NPC after neither party won a majority in the 1959 elections. Balewa continued to save as the Prime Minister, a position he had held since 1957, while Azikiwe took the largely ceremonial position of president of Senate. Following a UN-Surpervised referendum, the northern part of the Trust Territory of the Cameroons joined the Northern region in June 1961, while in October the Southern Cameroons United with Camerouns to form the federal Republic of Cameroon. On October 1,1963, Nigeria became a Republic. Azikiwe became President of the Country, Although as a Prime Minister, Balewa was still more powerful.

        HOW NIGERIAN INDEPENDENCE                       DAY IS CELEBRATED.

Nigerian independence day is celebrated with plenty of parades, bands and family alike. It is noted that, the usually starts with an address from the President in the morning, which officially starts the day celebrations. The day is also associated with children's day celebration which is combine of match passes in defferent states around Nigeria. It is always celebrated on the first of October in every year. It marks Nigerians the proclamation of INDEPENDENCE from British rule on 1st October 1960. Proudly today independence celebration is the 61st independence anniversary.

BY RICHARD RITE.

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