An Orisha(also spelled Orisa or Orixa) is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of God in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system. *. Olorun(Olorun, Olodumaré, Olofin)- God, the creator. *. Eshu(Eleggua, Exú, Eṣu, Elegba, Ellegua, Legbara, Papa Legba)- Eshu is the messenger between the human and divine worlds, Orisha of duality,…
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In the annals of Nigerian history, certain individuals stand out as icons of resilience, change and impact. One such figure is Ms. Efunroye Tinubu, a woman of extraordinary achievements and unwavering determination. She was born in 1810 and played an important role in the colonial era that shaped today’s Nigeria. Her life is a testament…
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On May 30, 1967, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu made a formal declaration of secession of the Eastern Region of Nigeria, thereby proclaiming the birth of the Republic of Biafra. Subsequently, in July 1967, the Nigerian military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, ordered the Nigerian Army high command to regain control of the eastern region. The Vulnerability…
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The National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), founded in 1956, was the association of Nigerian students at home and abroad. NUNS was a member of the West African Students’ Union (WASU), founded in 1925 by Ladipo Solanke and Herbert Bright Bankole. The union actively opposed government policies on many issues relating to the education system…
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Before the British bombardment of Lagos in 1851, Lagos was a major slave trading port under Oba Kosoko. Britain fought hard for the abolition of the slave trade in Lagos but due to some reasons having to do with Oba Kosoko, the mission was not accomplished. In 1849, Britain appointed John Beecroft as Consul of…
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The Adubi War, also known as Ogun Adubi or Egba Rebellion, was a war that broke out between June and August 1918 as a result of the tax system introduced by the British colonial government in Abeokuta. Direct taxes were introduced by the colonial government alongside existing bonds and forced labor levies, culminating in the…
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In 1945, a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history occurred with the beginning of the First General Strike, a nationwide trade union movement led by thousands of workers that would later go down in history as the Nigerian General Strike of 1945. This strike marked a turning point in the history of Nigeria’s situation in Nigeria.…
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Who was Victor Banjo and what put him in prison? Lieutenant Colonel Victor Banjo was a courageous Nigerian military officer who served during the Nigerian Civil War from 1953 until his death in 1967. Lt. Col. Banjo’s name has gone down in the history of the Nigerian Army because of his dedication and is mentioned…
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During the unrest following the January 15, 1966 military coup led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi seized power and became Nigeria’s first military head of state. Below is his first address to the nation. First Speech by General Aguiya Ironsi “The Government of the Federation of Nigeria has suspended its operations, the Nigerian…
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It often happens that each war/conflict has its own specific nickname and vocabulary used in it. For example, a 16-year war fought in Yorubaland in the 19th century was called “Kiriji,” an onomatopoeic term for the thunderous sound of the cannons used during the war. Likewise, the “Mugbagba” war was named after the only food…
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With an estimated population of 204 million, Nigeria is currently the most populous black country in the world. The country is characterized by the emergence of different eras of civilizations, states, kingdoms and empires as well as caliphates and colonial governments. Here are the top 20 historical facts about Nigeria that you as an ordinary…
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In 1963, Obafemi Awolowo, former prime minister of the now-defunct Western Region, and many of his followers were arrested, tried, convicted of treason, and imprisoned for conspiring with the Ghanaian authorities under Kwame Nkrumah to overthrow the Nigerian federal government. . On March 28, 1966, while in prison, Obafemi Awolowo wrote the following letter to…
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On August 16, 1983, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) held general elections for governorships across Nigeria. Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the then President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, promised Nigerians that the general elections would be free and fair, but this promise turned out to be in vain. The announcement of the election results was…
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ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S CHAMBERS LAGOS 12517 Bo.16/S.3/60 ATTORNEY 3rd September, 1970 20075. Dr. O. Arikpo Commissioner for External Affairs Ministry of External Affairs Lagos. Dear Dr. Arikpo, Nigeria-Cameroon Border Delimitation They recall recent developments in Nigeria-Cameroon relations regarding the disputed Bakasi Peninsula, particularly the work of the Nigeria-Cameroon Joint Boundary Commission since August 12-14 Meeting in…
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The Igbo polity and pre-colonial administration have been described by scholars as headless, that is, leaderless, leaderless or headless. This term is considered appropriate to describe the pre-colonial Igbo political system as it was decentralized and based on direct and village democracy in which everyone had the power to participate in decision-making. Council of Elders…
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The Lagos Town Council was established in 1950 as an administrative unit of Lagos under the new Local Government Act, an outgrowth of the Municipal Council created by a 1941 Ordinance. Oba Adele II of Lagos ran for President of the Lagos Municipal Council but lost. Dr. Abubakir Ibiyinka Olorunnimbe. Olorunimbe was mayor of Lagos…
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Who was King Jaja of Opobo? King Jaja of Opobo was a charismatic and courageous ruler of Opobo, a city-state in modern Rivers State, who fought against British trade penetration and rule in the Igbo hinterland. Jaja was a Nkwerre man who was born in Umuduruoha in Amaigbo around 1821. His real name was Mbanaso…
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The book “Eze Goes to School” is undoubtedly one of the most popular and widely read classic novels in Nigeria. Onuora Nzekwu co-authored the book with historian Michael Crowther in 1966 and it has been on the lips of Nigerians ever since. Onuora Nzekwu was born on February 19, 1928 in Kafanchan to Obiese Nzekwu…
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Remigio Herrera Adesina was born in Ijesha lands in Ekiti, western Nigeria, according to the 1811 census. In contrast, her marriage certificate lists her birth year as 1816. Adesina was captured in 1830 and sent to Cuba as a slave. In 1833, her Yoruba birth name Adesina was changed to Remigio Lucumi. Lucumi was a…
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Background of the Battle of Imagbon. In 1891, the Ijebu people, living 80 to 100 kilometers northeast of Lagos on the Magbon River, established a blockade and imposed tariffs on the trade route to Lagos, then a crown colony. The Awujale (traditional Ijebu ruler) closed the Ejirin market and cut off Lagos from its inland…
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