Islamic art and culture were widely spread across the entire land during the Songhai empire’s reign in the 16th century. However, their demise in 1591 resulted in political instability, which led to the dissolution of numerous states and the escalation of wars and conflicts between other kingdoms and empires.
The British tried to expand their colonial rule in Africa after the Napoleonic Wars and began trading with Nigeria in 1898. Before 1898, European nations’ scramble for Africa resulted in the partition of Africa following the Berlin Conference of 1884–1855.
Lord Fredrick Lugard.
Nigeria officially joined the vast British Empire in the year 1901. The southern protectorate and the Lagos colony were united in May 1906 under a new name: the colony and protectorate of Southern Nigeria.
Lord Fredrick Lugard created the protectorate of Nigeria in 1914 by combining the Lagos colony, Southern Nigeria, and Northern protectorate into a single colony. According to legend, the country’s name was derived from the Niger River, which ran through it, by Lord Lugard’s wife.
As a result, Britain used what is commonly referred to as “Indirect rule” to rule Nigeria. Britain claimed that the people were governed by their traditional chiefs and rulers rather than directly. Additionally, this was one of the factors that contributed to Nigerian nationalism.
Constitution for Nigeria’s Independence in 1960 The entire nation of Nigeria later joined forces to fight for the country’s independence. Self-government was granted to each region; The Northern region gained independence in 1959, the Western region in 1956, and the Mid-Western region in 1963 (post-independence). On October 1, 1960, the Nigerian flag, designed by Taiwo Akinkunmi in 1960, was raised to replace the British flag.
