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Q: When is Nigeria’s Independence Day?
A: October 1, 1960.
Q: Which country ruled Nigeria before independence?
- A: Britain (the United Kingdom).
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Q: What was the name given to the joining of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914?
A: The Amalgamation (1914).
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Q: Who is often called the leader at independence and served as Prime Minister in 1960?
A: Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
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Q: Who became Nigeria’s first President when Nigeria became a republic in 1963?
A: Nnamdi Azikiwe.
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Q: What major event happened in Nigeria between 1967 and 1970?
A: The Nigerian Civil War (also called the Biafran War).
Q: Which ancient kingdom in present-day Nigeria is famous for its bronzes?
A: The Benin Kingdom.
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Q: Name a famous pre-colonial Yoruba empire.
A: The Oyo Empire.
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Q: Which coastal town in Nigeria was known as a major slave-trade port in the past?
A: Badagry.
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Q: What is the capital city of Nigeria today?
A: Abuja.
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Q: Which city was Nigeria’s capital before Abuja?
A: Lagos.
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Q: Who was the British officer who combined the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914?
A: Lord Frederick Lugard (Lord Lugard).
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Q: What is a “colony” in simple words?
A: A place ruled by another country.
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Q: Name one leader who worked for Nigeria’s independence.
A: Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, or Ahmadu Bello. (Any one is correct.)
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Q: What are the two great rivers whose meeting area influenced the name of Nigeria?
A: The Niger and the Benue.
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Q: Who was Chief Obafemi Awolowo? (short)
A: A leader and politician from the Western Region who campaigned for education and development.
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Q: Who was Sir Ahmadu Bello?
A: A major leader from the Northern Region before independence.
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Q: What does “independence” mean?
A: A country governing itself, not ruled by another country.
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Q: Name one craft or art Nigeria is famous for historically.
A: Bronze casting (Benin), pottery, weaving or carving.
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Q: What is a traditional palace in Benin called?
A: The Oba’s Palace (the royal palace of the Oba of Benin).
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Q: What is the name of the Nigerian war that ended in 1970?
A: The Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War).
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Q: Who are traditional rulers in many Nigerian kingdoms?
A: Kings (e.g., Oba, Alaafin, Emir).
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Q: What was the main reason European powers came to West Africa in the past?
A: Trade (including goods and sadly the slave trade).
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Q: Name a famous Nigerian nationalist and journalist.
A: Nnamdi Azikiwe.
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Q: What is the name of the group that makes laws in Nigeria?
A: The National Assembly (Parliament).
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Q: Which Nigerian kingdom had the Alaafin as its ruler?
A: The Oyo Empire.
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Q: What is a “protectorate”?
A: An area under the protection and rule of another country.
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Q: Who was the first Prime Minister of Nigeria?
A: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.
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Q: What year did Nigeria become a republic (no longer under the Queen)?
A: 1963.
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Q: What is a traditional title for a Yoruba king?
A: Oba or Alaafin (depending on the kingdom).
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Q: Name a Nigerian hero who pushed for western education and unity.
A: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe or Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
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Q: What is a “missionary” in historical Nigeria?
A: Someone who came to teach religion and often started schools and hospitals.
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Q: Which region of Nigeria is famous for the Nok terracotta sculptures?
A: The area around central Nigeria (Nok culture).
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Q: What were palm oil and cocoa important for during colonial times?
A: They were important export crops sold to other countries.
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Q: What is the name of the Nigerian royal title used in Northern emirates?
A: Emir.
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Q: Which coastal city was an early European trading point and became a major city?
A: Lagos.
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Q: Who led the Northern People’s Congress before independence?
A: Sir Ahmadu Bello (also called the Sardauna of Sokoto).
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Q: What is the name for the movement to end colonial rule and gain self-government?
A: Nationalism (or the independence movement).
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Q: What important item did Europeans want from West Africa in the 19th century?
A: Raw materials like palm oil, rubber, and later, minerals.
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Q: Who was a famous female missionary known for work in Nigeria (19th century)?
A: Mary Slessor (worked in Calabar area).
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Q: What is the Benin Bronzes’ significance?
A: They are famous metal artworks showing the skill of Benin’s artists.
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Q: Which year did the Amalgamation of Nigeria take place?
A: 1914.
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Q: What is an “emirate”?
A: A territory ruled by an emir (common in Northern Nigeria).
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Q: What was the role of the railways during colonial Nigeria?
A: To move goods (like crops) to the ports for export.
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Q: Name a traditional system used by Nigerians before colonial rule.
A: Village councils, kingship systems, or chieftaincy systems.
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Q: What is a “treaty” in history?
A: An agreement between two groups or countries.
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Q: What is the name of Nigeria’s national flag designer?
A: Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (designed the green-white-green flag in 1959).
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Q: What do the two green stripes on the flag stand for?
A: Agriculture and natural wealth.
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Q: What does the white stripe in the flag stand for?
A: Peace.
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Q: Name one thing schools learned from missionaries.
A: Reading, writing, and modern schooling.
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Q: What is the name given to Nigeria’s early written laws under British rule?
A: Colonial laws (or ordinances)—simple answer: laws made by colonial authorities.
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Q: Who signed the Amalgamation order for Nigeria?
A: Lord Lugard (on behalf of the British colonial government).
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Q: Which people are famous for the ancient Ife bronze heads?
A: The Yoruba people (Ife art).
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Q: Name an important trade route inside Nigeria long ago.
A: The trans-Saharan trade routes linking North Africa and West Africa.
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Q: What was the role of chiefs in traditional Nigeria?
A: To lead communities, settle disputes, and organise work.
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Q: Who were the “merchant middlemen” in colonial trade?
A: Local traders who bought goods from farmers and sold to European buyers.
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Q: What is “oral history”?
A: Stories and history told by people from one generation to another.
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Q: Name an early Nigerian lawmaking body during colonial times.
A: Legislative Council (a council set up by the colonial government).
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Q: What is a “palace” used for by traditional rulers?
A: It’s where the king lives and holds meetings.
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Q: Who helped popularize western education in the Yoruba area?
A: Early missionaries and leaders like Obafemi Awolowo promoted education.
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Q: What is the significance of the Sokoto Caliphate historically?
A: It was a large Islamic state in the North that influenced culture and religion.
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Q: What was a common mode of transport for traders long ago?
A: Boats on rivers and walking or using pack animals.
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Q: What is the meaning of “colonial administration”?
A: The system used by the colonial power to run the country.
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Q: Which people built famous ancient walls and earthworks in Nigeria?
A: The Benin people and other kingdoms built fortifications and walls.
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Q: Who were some early Nigerian campaigners for independence?
A: Political activists, journalists, and educated Nigerians like Azikiwe and Awolowo.
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Q: What is a “monument”?
A: A structure built to remember important people or events.
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Q: What is the “Court of the Oba” in Benin known for?
A: Ceremonies, art, and royal traditions.
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Q: What language family includes many Nigerian languages like Yoruba and Igbo?
A: Niger-Congo language family.
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Q: Why were missionaries important in early Nigerian towns?
A: They built schools, hospitals, and introduced Christianity.
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Q: What is a “colonial officer”?
A: A person sent by the colonial power to govern territories.
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Q: What is an example of Nigeria’s ancient craftsmanship?
A: Ife sculpted heads and Benin bronzes.
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Q: Name a crop that changed life in colonial Nigeria (cash crop).
A: Cocoa, groundnuts (peanuts), or palm oil.
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Q: What is the role of griots or traditional storytellers?
A: To tell history and stories by memory.
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Q: What did the British use to control law and order during colonial times?
A: Police and local chiefs working with colonial officers.
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Q: What was the effect of colonial schools on Nigerian towns?
A: More children learned to read and write and new jobs appeared.
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Q: What is a “tribe” in simple historical terms?
A: A group of people with common ancestry, language, or culture.
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Q: Which West African empire once controlled trade across the region before colonialism?
A: Various empires like the Kanem-Bornu and older empires; locally, the Sokoto Caliphate was powerful in the north.
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Q: What does “republic” mean?
A: A country where leaders are chosen by citizens and there is no monarch.
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Q: Why is October 1, 1960 an important school history date?
A: It is the day Nigeria gained independence from Britain.
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Q: Who were the “colonial merchants”?
A: European companies and traders who bought goods from colonies.
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Q: What is a “palace art” often associated with Benin?
A: Metal plaques and bronze sculptures.
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Q: What is an “oral tradition”?
A: Stories, songs, and history passed down by speaking.
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Q: Name a traditional festival many Nigerian communities celebrate.
A: E.g., the New Yam Festival (celebrated by many Igbo communities).
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Q: What made Lagos an important city in the 19th and 20th centuries?
A: Its port and trade links with Europe and the world.
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Q: What is a “mission school”?
A: A school started by religious missionaries.
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Q: Who was a famous leader from the Western Region who pushed for free primary education?
A: Obafemi Awolowo.
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Q: What is the meaning of “indigenous”?
A: Native to the land — people born and living in that place.
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Q: What role did traditional craftsmen play in old Nigerian societies?
A: They made tools, clothes, artworks, and everyday items.
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Q: What is a “heritage site”?
A: A place important because of history or culture.
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Q: Who were the early traders that connected inland farmers to the coast?
A: Local middlemen and coastal traders.
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Q: What is a “chronicle”?
A: A written record of events in order.
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Q: What does “prehistoric” mean?
A: Before people wrote down history.
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Q: Name a place in Nigeria famous for ancient sculpture and art.
A: Ile-Ife (ancient Ife) or Benin City.
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Q: What did the British call the place they governed in Nigeria?
A: The Protectorate or Colony of Nigeria (depending on area and time).
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Q: What is an example of cultural exchange in history?
A: Adoption of crops, clothing, and ideas between traders and communities.
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Q: What is an elder’s role in many traditional communities?
A: To advise the community and keep traditions.
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Q: What is a “colonial legacy”?
A: Things left behind after colonial rule, like roads, schools, and laws.
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Q: What is one famous archaeological culture in Nigeria?
A: The Nok culture (famous for terracotta figures).
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Q: What is the importance of preserving old objects like bronzes and terracottas?
A: They teach us about the past and show old skills and beliefs.
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Q: Why should pupils learn Nigeria’s history?
A: To know where they come from and understand their culture and nation.
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