Top 10 Overlooked Facts About Nigeria’s Path to Independence in 1960
As Nigeria celebrate its 65th Independence Day today, October 1, 2025, most reflections circle back to the same iconic images: Nnamdi Azikiwe raising the green-white-green flag, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa delivering his speech, and the jubilant handover from British rule. Yet, the story of how Nigeria achieved independence in 1960 is far more layered than those well-worn moments suggest.
Behind the scenes were fiery debates in parliament, reluctant compromises between regions, economic shifts triggered by oil, and even foreign fingerprints on national symbols. These overlooked details remind us that Nigeria’s freedom wasn’t won in a single day but carved out through years of negotiation, resistance, and global influence.
Here are 10 overlooked facts about Nigeria’s path to independence in 1960 that offer a fuller picture of how Africa’s most populous nation emerged from colonial rule.
1. The 1953 Motion for Self-Government Sparked Riots
When Anthony Enahoro moved a motion in 1953 for Nigeria to gain self-government by 1956, it seemed like a bold step forward. But northern leaders resisted, pushing for a later date. The tension spilled into the streets, leading to violent riots in Kano. This exposed the deep regional divides that haunted Nigeria’s politics even before independence.
2. Nigeria’s Flag Was Designed by a Student for £100
The iconic green-white-green flag wasn’t designed by a politician or an artist, but by a 23-year-old student, Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, who submitted his entry in a national competition. His reward? A modest £100. The design, symbolizing agriculture and unity, remains one of the most enduring symbols of Nigeria’s nationhood.
3. The First National Anthem Came from a British Hand
Few know that “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”, the anthem sung at independence, was written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate living in Nigeria, with music composed by Frances Berda. Though patriotic in tone, its foreign authorship showed how independence still carried colonial footprints.
4. Oil Discovery Changed the Equation
The 1956 discovery of oil in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, shifted the balance of Nigeria’s independence talks. Oil wealth promised a new economic future and convinced the British that granting independence could be mutually beneficial. This discovery marked the start of Nigeria’s reliance on crude oil, for better and worse.
5. Regional Autonomy Came in Phases
While the Western and Eastern regions attained self-government in 1957, the North waited until 1959, citing educational and economic disadvantages. This staggered transition was a political compromise to keep Nigeria united under a federal system, but it also deepened mistrust between regions.
6. London Conferences Mapped Nigeria’s Federal Structure
Between 1953 and 1958, Nigerian leaders and British officials met repeatedly in London to iron out the details of the new federation. From minority rights to resource sharing, these conferences produced the framework of the 1960 constitution. Though rarely spotlighted, they shaped the Nigeria we know today.
7. Workers’ Strike Fueled Nationalism
Before the politicians dominated headlines, it was the workers who shook the system. In 1945, over 17,000 Nigerian workers launched a general strike for fair wages. The action embarrassed the British colonial government and injected energy into the nationalist struggle. Labor leader Michael Imoudu became a symbol of resistance.
8. Azikiwe’s U.S. Experience Shaped His Vision
Nigeria’s first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, wasn’t just a local nationalist. His education in the United States, where he encountered Pan-African thinkers like W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey, broadened his outlook. His push for unity was deeply tied to these global influences.
9. The 1959 Elections Showed Nigeria’s Fragility
The last elections before independence revealed Nigeria’s political fault lines. No single party won outright, forcing a coalition between the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). This uneasy alliance kept the country together on October 1, but ethnic divisions simmered beneath the surface.
10. Independence Wasn’t the Final Map
Nigeria’s borders weren’t fully settled in 1960. In 1961, a UN-supervised plebiscite decided whether the Northern Cameroons would join Nigeria or Cameroon. The north voted to join Nigeria, while the south opted for Cameroon, proof that independence was still tied to colonial legacies.
Why These Facts Matter
Nigeria’s independence was not a single heroic moment but a complex, negotiated process influenced by regional politics, global ideas, and economic realities. Revisiting these overlooked stories helps us understand the challenges of unity, governance, and nation-building that remain relevant 65 years later.
What surprises you most about Nigeria’s road to independence? Share your thoughts and let’s reflect on what these hidden stories mean for today’s Nigeria.
