Eminent Nigerians That Obtain Freedom for Their People – JSS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Eminent Nigerians are great leaders who worked to free Nigeria from colonial rule, just as Moses freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Name some eminent Nigerians who worked for Nigeria’s freedom.
2. Explain why children are called the future leaders.
3. State the qualities of a good leader.
4. Define responsibility and leadership.
5. State five fundamental human rights from the United Nations declaration.

What is freedom and colonial rule?

Freedom is the right of people to rule themselves and live without unfair control by others.

• Colonial rule: control of a country by a foreign power, as Britain once ruled Nigeria.
• Independence: the time a country becomes free to govern itself. Nigeria became independent on 1st October 1960.
• Nationalist: a person who works to free his or her country from foreign rule.

How did Moses inspire freedom fighters?

Moses freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through determination, perseverance and help from God.

• Determination: Moses kept to his task even when it was hard.
• Perseverance: he did not give up on the people he was leading.
• Help from God: he trusted God for guidance and strength.
• Result: his success has inspired great men and women of all ages to struggle for the freedom of their people.

Which eminent Nigerians obtained freedom for their people?

The eminent Nigerians who worked for freedom are the great nationalists of the era before independence.

1. Herbert Macaulay: early nationalist, often called the father of Nigerian nationalism.
2. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik): nationalist leader and journalist who later became Nigeria’s first President.
3. Obafemi Awolowo (Awo): nationalist leader from the West and Premier of the Western Region.
4. Anthony Enahoro: nationalist who called for Nigeria’s self-government in the 1950s.
5. Tafawa Balewa: northern leader and Nigeria’s first Prime Minister.
6. Ahmadu Bello: the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the Northern Region.
7. Aminu Kano: northern nationalist who spoke for ordinary people.
8. Ernest Ikoli: journalist and early nationalist.
9. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti: women’s rights campaigner and nationalist.
10. Margaret Ekpo: women’s rights campaigner and nationalist from the East.

• All these people worked hard to free Nigeria from colonial rule.
• We remember them because they helped Nigeria become an independent nation.

Who are the future leaders?

Children are the future leaders because they will take over from the adults who lead Nigeria today.

• Present leaders: adults who now provide national service.
• Future leaders: children who will take over from them.
• Why we go to school: to gain the knowledge and skills needed to perform our duties well.

How can children prepare for leadership?

• Study hard: learn the knowledge a leader needs.
• Be obedient: respect parents, teachers and elders.
• Be honest: tell the truth in small matters.
• Serve others: help at home, in school and in church.

What are the qualities of a good leader?

A good leader is a person who is ready to serve God and other people.

• Service: leads by serving, in any capacity and in any part of the country where service is needed.
• Service to God and mankind: this is the leader’s major concern.
• Faithfulness: stays loyal to God and to the people.
• Honesty: does not cheat or steal from the people.
• Humility: does not look down on others.
• Courage: stands for what is right.
• Fairness: treats everybody equally.

Which leaders did God use in the Bible?

God used special people such as Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Deborah and Gideon to perform special assignments.

What is responsibility?

Responsibility means being held duty-bound to do something, or accepting to do it (Longman Active Study Dictionary).

• Accepting duty: Moses accepted the responsibility to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
• In the Christian community: accepting special responsibilities is part of life.
• Lesson: when you know your responsibility, you should accept it and do it well.

What is leadership?

Leadership means being the leader of a team, an organisation or a country (Longman Active Study Dictionary).

• Second meaning: being good at leading a team, an organisation or a country.
• Examples: a class prefect, a church choir leader, a state governor.

What is the Christian community?

The Christian community is the body of believers who serve God and one another.

• It has many aspects that need our services.
• Special people are called to perform special assignments.
• God uses some political leaders to achieve special assignments that glorify Him.

Which leaders does God use in the community?

• Kings: rulers of the nation.
• Priests: leaders of worship and sacrifice.
• Prophets: messengers who speak God’s word.
• Judges: leaders who settled disputes and delivered the people.

What are human rights societies?

Human rights societies are groups that protect people’s rights and make sure no one suffers abuse.

• Fighting to regain freedom is mainly fighting to restore human rights.
• Leaders defended their people on the platform of human rights.
• Human rights societies make sure these rights are protected and that no one is exposed to their abuse.

What is the United Nations declaration of human rights?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the document of 30 articles adopted by the United Nations on 10th December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot, Paris.

• Most nations adopted it as their basis for fundamental human rights.
• Nigeria also adopted it as the basis for its fundamental human rights.

What are some of the human rights in the declaration?

The following are some of the rights in the first ten articles.

1. Freedom and equality: all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
2. No discrimination: everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedom, regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, nation, origin of birth or any other status.
3. Life and liberty: everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
4. No slavery: no one shall be held in slavery or servitude, and slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited.
5. No torture: no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
6. Recognition before the law: everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.
7. Equal protection: all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
8. Effective remedy: everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by law.
9. No arbitrary arrest: no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
10. Fair hearing: everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing.

Evaluation

1. Name five eminent Nigerians who worked for Nigeria’s freedom.
2. Why are children called the future leaders?
3. State four qualities of a good leader.
4. Define responsibility and leadership.
5. State five fundamental human rights from the United Nations declaration.

Assignment

Choose one eminent Nigerian from the list. Write five lines on what the person did for Nigeria and two qualities of a good leader that the person showed.

Further reading

• SOLAKAT New Syllabus on Social Studies for JSS 1, by A. Oluwasola, page 88
• Simplified Social Studies for Nigerian Secondary Schools Book 1, by Yusuf, page 69
• Ilesanmi Christian Religious Studies for JSS Book 2, by Tunde Erumerba et al.