NIGERIA AT 57

Today, October 1, 2017, is being marked all over Nigeria as the fifty-seventh anniversary since Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule. Some parts of the country were under British rule for many decades prior to the formal formation of Nigeria in 1900, and while we had numerous empires, kingdoms, autonomous villages and a Caliphate prior to 1900, we did not have one country called Nigeria until the Brits cobbled one together. This anniversary is being marked in a low-key manner by all three tiers of government partly because of the poor economy, partly because of insecurity in all parts of the country and also partly because 57 is not a significant landmark such as 10, 25, 50 or 100 years.
 On October 1,1960, the flag of British Colonial Nigeria was lowered and new flag was raised. After a century of British influence, the region we know today as Nigeria became a commonwealth realm. This made the new country a sovereign state, and gave it the same political status as other countries around the globe.
Though 1960 is generally celebrated as the birth year of Nigeria, it wasn’t until 1963 that the rule of monarchy was abolished and the Federal Republic of Nigeria was born. In any case, October 1 is a significant date in the history of Africa’s most populous nation.
Today we celebrate this diverse nation and its glorious green and white flag. Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

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  Culled from the Vanguard