Facts About the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos

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Sun International is the owner of the Federal Palace Hotel. Sun International was founded in 1969 when South African Breweries and Sol Kerzner joined forces to form the Southern Sun Hotel Company. The company is well recognized for its Sun City Resort in the Northwest Province, Rustenburg. Nigeria signed its independence declaration in the main boardroom of the newly built Federal Palace Hotel, following its separation from Britain in 1960. One of the primary highlights of the hotel’s casino is currently this boardroom. The hotel’s Independence Hall, which also held the 1977 Festival of Africa and the summit of the African Union’s (formerly Organization of African Unity) heads of state, served as the venue for Nigeria’s official Independence celebration. Nigeria’s official independence celebration was held in the hotel’s Independence Hall, which also played home to the Festival of Africa and the summit of the African Union’s (formerly Organization of Africa Unity) heads of state in 1977.

Throwback to Sir Ladapo Samuel Ademola ll Showstopping Entrance to the Coronation of King George VI

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The most fashionable king in the history of the ancient Yoruba Kingdom, Oba Alake of Abeokuta (Egbaland). Oba Sir Ladapo Samuel Ademola II arrives at the coronation of King George VI in 1937 in an exotic Rolls-Royce Phantom II. in London. Ademola II, son of Alake (Oba) Ademola I, was one of the first traditional rulers of Nigeria to own a car. King George VI was King of Great Britain from 1936 until his death in 1952. George VI is also the father…

The Tragic End of Lit. Daniel Idowu Bamidele Over Wrongful Accusation of Coup Plotting

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Bamidele was implicated in the coup attempt because he heard a rumor of a coup attempt and did not reveal the information. Daniel Bamidele He was a Nigerian army officer who was executed by the government of General Ibrahim Babangida for failing to report an alleged plot against the government in the so-called “Vatsa coup”. Bamidele was charged with conspiracy to commit treason. During an official trip to Kaduna in October 1983 to print the division’s report to the Army Chiefs of Staff Conference, Daniel Bamidele heard rumors of a planned coup against…

Kumbwada: A Throne Reserved for Females in Niger State

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An interesting story about an ancient kingdom where only a woman can become king. No man sits on the throne of Kumbwada. Kumbwada is an ancient kingdom in Niger, a state in northern Nigeria. Every man who tries to rule dies, dies; Many tried but lost their lives. According to legend, Maimuna lost the two brothers she had placed on the throne and was forced to remain in the city as queen until her death 83 years later. A curse is said to be responsible for this “ban” imposed on the men who ruled as kings…

Ido-Ora: The Twin Capital of the World

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You will be interested to know that there is a special town in Nigeria where every house has dual gas. This is a reason for joy because many families look forward to the birth of twins and believe that this is a special blessing from God. This is an interesting but little-known fact: the twin birth rate in West Africa is about four times higher than in the rest of the world. The center of this twin zone is Igbo-Ora, a quiet town in the southwest of Oyo State. The city is nicknamed the “Twin Capital of the World”.  Igbo-Ora is a town and…

British Invasion of Lagos in 1851

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“Lagos is to be attacked by force,” was the order Beecroft received from London…The rift between Akitoye and Kosoko tore Eko badly. One was a man of the people, the other was also a man of the people, but a “friend” of the English people. The battle for “Eleko” aimed to tear the state apart; All the main players in the next battle are already in position. The order was given. The battle for the soul of Lagos was to destroy everything he owned. Kosoko wanted the throne, but Akitoye wanted it more. The infamous HMS Bloodhound leaves England for…

Human Right Leader, Gani Fawehinmi, Others Protest Against Military Regime in Nigeria

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Dressed in traditional blue clothing, human rights leader Gani Fawehinmi (right) attempts to address protesters who had gathered at a bus stop in Yaba for a banned anti-junta demonstration to mark the fifth anniversary of the cancellation of the June 12, 1993, presidential election as well as the rejection of the new military regime in Nigeria. On his right, Femi Falana (Falz’s father) (in green shirt), lawyer and prominent human rights activist, and on his left, with dark glasses, Dupe Onitiri Abiola,…

Historical Rift Between Ora Ekpen and Crown Prince Esigie

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They are also known as the Owan people in Edo. It is reported that Okpameh (also called Uguan), son of Oba Ewaure, left the Kingdom of Benin after being ordered not to commit murders. He went to the northern part and settled in a certain place which he called Odorlerene (somewhere in present-day Ora). Okpameh was a very powerful and famous hunter who was respected for killing the fearsome leopard (Ekpen). He married Lady Uokha, who bore him a son, whom he named (due to the circumstances of his birth) Ora Ekpen. Ora Ekpen then gave birth to children who form today’s Ora community. Okpameh later received news of the death…

West African Pilot Newspaper by Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Pioneer Entrepreneurial Black Journalism

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The West African Pilot was a newspaper founded on November 22, 1937, by Nnamdi Azikiwe (“Zika”) in Nigeria, dedicated to the struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He was known for introducing popular journalism to Nigeria. The newspaper pioneered entrepreneurial black journalism. The newspaper linked football with social justice. Azikiwe’s Article used football to reinforce the growing unpopularity of colonization in Nigeria. With a circulation of around 25,000 copies and a significantly larger readership, the newspaper enjoyed great popularity. This article marked the beginning of popular journalism in Nigeria. West African Pilot spawned a chain of newspapers positioned as city…

Students in the Electronics Department at Comprehensive High School Aiyetoro, Ogun State in the 1960s.

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Aiyetoro, or “Compro” as it was called by students, was the first school in the country to offer basic subjects in electronics, applied electricity and motor mechanics at “O” level. These were supplementary courses to other technical subjects such as carpentry, metal carpentry and technical drawing. The school was the second comprehensive school in the country after the Government Secondary School, Port Harcourt, which was established in 1962 in collaboration with the then Government of Eastern Nigeria and USAID. Its founders came from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The school was founded as a pioneering comprehensive school in Africa. In addition to technical subjects,…

Remember the Popular Abacha Stove, Read Details Below

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Political instability in Nigeria under the Abacha administration in 1993/94 as a result of the annulment of the June 12, 1992, presidential election led by the late business tycoon Chief M.K.O. had won. Abiola- caused a severe shortage of kerosene which was clearly felt in various parts of the country. Kerosene shortage led to the invention of the Abacha Coal-Pot, a locally made coal stove. Over the years, Abacha Coal-Pot cooking technology has become widespread, and its use has spread rapidly due to the continuous rise in prices of kerosene and cooking gas. In Nigeria, the official price of kerosene per liter has increased by more than 200% in the last…

Details of the 17th century to 20th Century Ancient Aro-Ibibio Wars

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The Aro-Ibibio Wars were a series of conflicts between the Aro (Arochukwu) people (a subgroup of the Igbo) and the Ibibio people in what is now southeastern Nigeria, in the Ibom Kingdom, from 1630 to 1902. These wars led to the creation of the kingdom Arochukwu. Before the arrival of the Igbo in the Aro area, a group of Proto-Ibibio migrated to the region and founded the Ibom…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Recounts his Experience as an inmate in Yola Prison

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo with his wife Stella Obasanjo after his release from Yola Prison in June 1998. Obasanjo’s journey to prison began in 1995 when General Sani Abacha, the late head of state, sentenced him to 30 years in prison for a coup. The former president was later released in 1998. He then took part in the 1999 presidential election and won it under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).…