Nationalism and National Movement in Nigeria – SS2 Nigerian History Lesson Note (First Term)

Nationalism is when people feel strong love and pride for their country and want to rule themselves. In Nigeria, nationalism was the movement of people who wanted to end British colonial rule and become an independent country. Nigerian nationalism grew over many years, with many brave leaders fighting for freedom in different ways. This lesson will explain how Nigerian nationalism started, grew stronger, and finally led to independence on October 1, 1960.

Behavioural objectives

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

1. Define nationalism and describe early Nigerian resistance to British rule.
2. Name the main nationalist organisations and parties and say when each was founded.
3. Explain how Western education, the press and World War II strengthened nationalism.
4. Describe the contributions of the key nationalist leaders, including women.
5. List the constitutions and conferences that led to independence in 1960.
6. State the challenges that nationalism and the new nation faced.

How did Nigerian nationalism begin (1880s to 1920s)?

Early signs of resistance

Even before official nationalism began, Nigerians showed resistance to foreign control:

• Traditional rulers fought against British invasion
• The Ekumeku Movement in present-day Delta State fought against the British for 31 years (1883-1914)
• King Jaja of Opobo resisted British trading rules
• The Aro of Eastern Nigeria fought against British expeditions
• Samori Toure and the Sokoto Caliphate resisted in the North

First nationalist organisations

The first organised nationalist groups appeared in the early 1900s:

• The People’s Union formed in Lagos in 1908
• The Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society worked to protect land rights
• The Lagos Auxiliary of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines’ Protection Society
• These early groups were small and mainly in Lagos
• They focused on specific issues rather than full independence

Early nationalist leaders

Important early leaders included:

• John Payne Jackson: A newspaper editor who criticised British policies
• Herbert Macaulay: Often called the “Father of Nigerian Nationalism”
• Kitoyi Ajasa: A lawyer who worked for Nigerian rights
• These men were mostly educated professionals
• They used newspapers and petitions to protest unfair British policies

The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP)

The NNDP was the first true political party in Nigeria:

• Founded by Herbert Macaulay in 1923
• Created to participate in elections for the Lagos Legislative Council
• Won all the seats open to Nigerians in the 1923, 1928, and 1933 elections
• Demanded more participation in government
• Did not yet call for full independence
• Limited to Lagos area only

How did nationalism grow (1930s to 1945)?

The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM)

A broader nationalist organisation emerged:

• Founded in 1934 by Ernest Ikoli, H.O. Davies, and Samuel Akinsanya
• First multi-ethnic nationalist organisation
• Expanded beyond Lagos to other parts of Southern Nigeria
• Published a daily newspaper called “Daily Service”
• Won elections against the NNDP in 1938
• Split apart in 1941 due to internal disagreements

Impact of Western education

Education played a key role in growing nationalism:

• More Nigerians were getting Western education
• Learned about ideas like democracy, freedom, and equality
• Read about independence movements in other countries
• Compared British promises with colonial reality
• Became aware of racial discrimination
• Formed student groups that became political

Nigerian students abroad

Students who studied overseas became important nationalists:

• Nnamdi Azikiwe studied in the United States
• Obafemi Awolowo studied law in the United Kingdom
• They saw that white people in their home countries had freedom
• They asked why Nigerians couldn’t have the same freedom
• They brought back new political ideas
• They started newspapers and organisations when they returned

The press and nationalism

Newspapers helped spread nationalist ideas:

• The West African Pilot (started by Azikiwe in 1937)
• The Daily Service (Nigerian Youth Movement paper)
• Daily Comet, Eastern Guardian, and other papers
• These papers criticised colonial policies
• They reported on unfair treatment of Nigerians
• They helped people across Nigeria share similar concerns

How did World War II affect nationalism (1939 to 1945)?

Nigerian participation in the war

World War II changed how Nigerians thought about colonialism:

• Thousands of Nigerians fought for Britain against Germany and Japan
• Nigerian soldiers saw that white people could be defeated
• They fought for freedom in other lands while Nigeria wasn’t free
• They were often treated poorly despite their service
• When they returned, they joined nationalist movements

The Atlantic Charter

International events encouraged Nigerian nationalists:

• The Atlantic Charter (1941) promised self-determination for all peoples
• Nigerians asked why this didn’t apply to them
• The United Nations formed in 1945 supporting self-government
• America and Soviet Union criticised European colonialism
• These international ideas supported Nigerian demands

Economic changes

The war changed Nigeria’s economy:

• Britain needed Nigerian resources more than ever
• Workers were often poorly paid and treated badly
• Prices of goods increased causing hardship
• These problems made more people join nationalist movements
• General Strike of 1945 showed workers’ power

Which nationalist movements formed after World War II (1945 to 1950s)?

National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)

A major nationalist organisation formed:

• Founded in 1944 by Herbert Macaulay and Nnamdi Azikiwe
• Brought together different groups from across Nigeria
• Sent delegation to London in 1947 to demand constitutional changes
• Organised protests against unfair colonial policies
• Became a political party that later led Eastern Nigeria

Action Group (AG)

Another major nationalist party emerged:

• Founded in 1951 by Obafemi Awolowo
• Grew from a Yoruba cultural organisation (Egbe Omo Oduduwa)
• Strong in Western Nigeria
• Called for a federal system of government
• Pushed for immediate self-government
• Had the motto “Freedom for all, life more abundant”

Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU)

Northern Nigeria also had nationalist movements:

• Founded by Aminu Kano in 1950
• Challenged the conservative Northern establishment
• Fought for ordinary northerners’ rights
• Opposed the feudal system in the North
• Allied with southern nationalists

Northern People’s Congress (NPC)

The NPC was a more conservative northern party:

• Led by Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto
• Founded in 1949
• More cautious about independence
• Wanted to protect northern interests
• Feared southern domination
• Eventually accepted the independence movement

What strategies did Nigerian nationalists use?

Constitutional approach

Nigerian nationalists used peaceful political methods:

• Participated in constitutional conferences
• Worked through existing political systems
• Demanded gradual increases in Nigerian representation
• Negotiated with British authorities
• Used the Legislative Council to voice concerns

Mass mobilisation

They also organised the general public:

• Held large public meetings and rallies
• Used newspapers to spread their message
• Formed labour unions and student groups
• Created women’s organisations
• Boycotted unfair taxes or foreign goods

Pan-Africanism

Nigerian nationalists connected with independence movements across Africa:

• Nnamdi Azikiwe promoted Pan-African ideas
• Attended Pan-African Congresses
• Supported independence for all African countries
• Worked with leaders like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana
• Saw Nigerian freedom as part of African liberation

Who were the key nationalist leaders?

Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996)

Azikiwe was one of the most important nationalist leaders:

• Known as “Zik” by his supporters
• Founded influential newspapers
• Led the NCNC party
• Became Premier of Eastern Region
• Later became the first Nigerian President after independence
• Known for powerful speeches and writing

Obafemi Awolowo (1909-1987)

Awolowo was another important nationalist figure:

• Founded Action Group party
• Introduced free education in Western Region
• Wrote books on Nigerian government and independence
• Became Premier of Western Region
• Known for his careful planning and organisation
• Promoted federalism as Nigeria’s best system

Herbert Macaulay (1864-1946)

Macaulay was the pioneer of Nigerian nationalism:

• Founded the first political party (NNDP)
• Used his newspaper to criticise colonial policies
• Co-founded the NCNC with Azikiwe
• Died during a nationalist tour in 1946
• Called the “Father of Nigerian Nationalism”

Ahmadu Bello (1910-1966)

Ahmadu Bello was the main northern leader:

• The Sardauna of Sokoto, a traditional ruler
• Led the Northern People’s Congress
• Became Premier of Northern Region
• Protected northern interests during independence talks
• Helped bring the North into a united independent Nigeria

Margaret Ekpo (1914-2006)

Women also played important roles:

• A women’s rights activist from Calabar
• Organised women to support nationalism
• Member of the Eastern House of Chiefs
• Made sure women’s voices were heard
• Showed that nationalism included women too

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900-1978)

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was another important woman leader:

• Led protests against unfair taxes on women
• Founded the Abeokuta Women’s Union
• Forced a traditional ruler to step down
• Travelled internationally to speak about Nigerian freedom
• Mother of famous musician Fela Kuti

What was the road to independence?

Constitutional development

Nigeria moved toward independence through stages:

• Richards Constitution (1946): brought regions together but gave limited power
• Macpherson Constitution (1951): gave more power to Nigerians in regional governments
• Lyttelton Constitution (1954): created a federal system with more Nigerian leaders

Regional self-government

Different regions gained self-rule at different times:

• Western and Eastern Regions got self-government in 1957
• Northern Region in 1959
• Nigerian leaders became premiers of these regions
• Only foreign affairs and defence stayed under British control

Independence conferences

The final steps to independence involved meetings:

• Constitutional Conferences in London (1957, 1958, 1959)
• Nigerian leaders negotiated with the British
• Discussed how independent Nigeria would be governed
• Agreed on October 1, 1960 as Independence Day
• Settled questions about regions, elections, and government structure

What challenges did nationalism face?

Regional and ethnic tensions

Nigerian nationalism faced internal problems:

• Different ethnic groups had different interests
• Northern, Western, and Eastern regions competed for power
• Some feared domination by larger ethnic groups
• Political parties became associated with specific regions
• Created difficulties in forming a united nation

Religious differences

Religion also created divisions:

• North was mostly Muslim
• South was mostly Christian
• Different views on how the country should be governed
• Questions about religious law and education
• Nationalist leaders had to work across religious lines

Class and economic differences

Social class affected nationalism:

• Urban educated elite led most nationalist movements
• Rural farmers sometimes had different concerns
• Traditional rulers often cooperated with British
• Workers and labour unions had economic focuses
• These differences shaped different visions for independent Nigeria

How did Nigeria achieve independence?

Final steps to freedom

The final path to independence:

• General elections held in 1959
• No party won a clear majority
• NPC and NCNC formed a coalition government
• Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became Prime Minister
• British agreed to grant full independence

Independence Day

Nigeria finally became independent:

• October 1, 1960
• Union Jack (British flag) lowered
• Nigerian flag raised
• Celebrations throughout the country
• Tafawa Balewa became Prime Minister
• Nnamdi Azikiwe became Governor-General
• Nigeria joined the United Nations and Commonwealth

What challenges did Nigeria face after independence?

Continuing nation-building

After independence, Nigeria faced ongoing challenges:

• Creating national unity among diverse peoples
• Balancing power between regions
• Building a functioning democracy
• Developing the economy
• Overcoming colonial legacies

Republican status

Nigeria made further political changes:

• Became a republic in 1963
• Nnamdi Azikiwe became President
• Removed British monarch as head of state
• Created a fully Nigerian government
• Completed the process of independence

What is the legacy of Nigerian nationalism?

Nigerian nationalism united many different people in the struggle for independence. It grew from small beginnings in Lagos into a nationwide movement that freed Nigeria from British colonial rule. The movement included men and women from different regions, religions and ethnic groups who worked together despite their differences.

Nationalism achieved its main goal of independence in 1960, but the challenges of building a united nation continued. The regional, ethnic and religious divisions of the nationalist period remained important after independence. The movement showed that Nigerians could work together for a common goal.

The legacy of Nigerian nationalism includes independence itself and the ideas of unity, freedom and self-government that continue to inspire Nigerians today. The nationalist leaders, with all their differences and disagreements, shared a vision of a free Nigeria taking its place among the nations of the world. They won independence against a powerful colonial empire.

Evaluation

1. Define nationalism.
2. Name the first political party in Nigeria and state who founded it and when.
3. State three ways in which World War II strengthened Nigerian nationalism.
4. Name the three constitutions that came before independence and give one feature of each.
5. State two challenges that nationalism faced before independence.

Assignment

1. Write short notes on any two nationalist leaders in this lesson, stating the party each led and one contribution each made.
2. Explain how the press and Western education helped the growth of Nigerian nationalism.