On 1 October 1960, Nigeria became an independent nation.
Across the country, Nigerians remember the historic moment when the British Union Jack was lowered and the Nigerian Green-White-Green flag was raised in Lagos, marking the end of British colonial rule and the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s history.
But for Ilẹ̀ Abínibí, 1 October is also an opportunity to look at independence through another important lens: the history, people, culture and political contributions of the Yorùbá people.
Nigeria’s independence was a national achievement involving people from different parts of the country. However, Lagos and Yorùbáland occupied an important place in the political, cultural and intellectual history that shaped the road to independence.
Why Lagos Matters in the Independence Story
Long before independence, Lagos had developed into an important centre of commerce, education, journalism and political activity.
By 1960, Lagos was the capital of Nigeria and the centre of the Federal Government. It was therefore the natural stage for the historic independence ceremony.
For the Yorùbá people, Lagos also carries a much older history.
Lagos, historically known as Èkó, has deep connections with Yorùbá history and the Awori people. Over the years, the city became a meeting point where different Nigerian communities interacted through trade, politics, education and cultural exchange.
It was in this historic city that the Nigerian flag was raised on 1 October 1960.
The Yorùbá Contribution to Nigeria’s Independence Journey
The movement towards self-government was not the work of one person or one ethnic group.
Nigerians from different regions and backgrounds participated in political organisations, newspapers, trade unions, educational movements and nationalist activities.
Among the prominent Yorùbá figures of the period was Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a major political leader from Western Nigeria and one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s First Republic.
Awolowo’s political movement placed considerable emphasis on education, development and regional self-government.
His administration in the former Western Region became particularly associated with the expansion of education and other social programmes.
The period also produced other important Yorùbá voices in Nigerian public life, including Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Herbert Macaulay, Ernest Ikoli, and numerous journalists, lawyers, educators, traditional rulers and community leaders who participated in the political development of Lagos and Western Nigeria.
Their stories form part of the wider Nigerian independence story.
Herbert Macaulay and the Early Nationalist Movement
When discussing Nigerian nationalism, the name Herbert Macaulay cannot easily be left out.
Born in Lagos in 1864, Macaulay became one of the early Nigerian political activists who challenged aspects of colonial administration.
He was associated with the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), founded in 1923, which played an important role in the development of organised politics in colonial Lagos.
Macaulay’s political activities belong to an earlier period than the final independence negotiations, but his generation helped establish political activism that later generations built upon.
His story is particularly important to Lagos history and to the development of modern Nigerian political consciousness.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Western Region
Another towering figure was Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Awolowo became the leader of the Action Group, a major political organisation founded in 1951 with its strongest base in the Western Region.
He advocated political independence, economic development and mass education.
One of the most remembered policies associated with his government in the Western Region was the introduction of free primary education in 1955.
This was significant because education became one of the foundations of the region’s social development.
For many Yorùbá families, education subsequently became an important pathway to professional advancement and participation in public life.
Independence Was Also About Education
The connection between education and independence deserves particular attention.
Colonial-era schools produced a growing class of Nigerian teachers, lawyers, journalists, doctors, civil servants and political activists.
Among the Yorùbá, educational institutions in Lagos and other parts of the Western Region contributed significantly to the emergence of an educated public that could debate political issues and challenge colonial policies.
This is one reason the history of Nigerian independence cannot be separated from the history of education.
Nnamdi Azikiwe and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
On 1 October 1960, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became Nigeria’s first Prime Minister.
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, meanwhile, became Nigeria’s first Nigerian Governor-General.
Although neither man was Yorùbá, their positions remind us that independence was a national project involving people from across Nigeria.
This is an important part of the lesson.
Celebrating the Yorùbá contribution to Nigerian history does not require ignoring the contributions of other Nigerian peoples.
Instead, it allows us to understand how different histories came together to create the country that became independent in 1960.
The Green-White-Green Flag
There is also a fascinating connection between independence and Nigeria’s national identity.
The Nigerian flag was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a Nigerian student who entered the national flag design competition in 1958.
His design eventually became the national flag, although the original red sun element was removed before independence.
Today, the Green-White-Green flag flies across Nigeria and has become one of the country’s most recognisable symbols.
For Yorùbá people, this is another reminder that Nigerian identity contains contributions from individuals whose stories deserve to be remembered.
What Does Independence Mean to Yorùbá People?
For the Yorùbá, 1 October can be viewed from two perspectives.
It is first and foremost Nigeria’s Independence Day.
But it is also an opportunity to remember the history of the people and communities that contributed to the making of modern Nigeria.
From Èkó and Ìbàdàn to Ọ̀ṣun, Ọ̀yọ́, Èkìtì, Ondo, Ìjẹ̀bú, Ìjẹ̀ṣà and other parts of Yorùbáland, the story of the Yorùbá people is much older than the Nigerian state.
Yorùbá civilisation has its own history, political institutions, traditional rulers, indigenous religions, philosophy, literature, language, music, art and systems of social organisation.
The creation of Nigeria did not erase that history.
Instead, Yorùbá heritage became one of the many cultural foundations within the Nigerian nation.
A Reminder to Preserve Yorùbá Heritage
This is where Independence Day becomes particularly meaningful for a platform such as Ilẹ̀ Abínibí.
As Nigerians celebrate the country, we should also remember the importance of preserving the cultures that make up Nigeria.
The Yorùbá language deserves to be spoken and passed to younger generations.
Traditional names should not be forgotten.
Our proverbs, folktales, praise poetry, music, festivals, traditional architecture, cuisine, clothing and indigenous knowledge should continue to be documented and taught.
Our history should also be told accurately.
A people who know their history are better positioned to understand their identity.
From 1960 to 2026
Nigeria has travelled a long road since that historic day in Lagos.
The country has experienced civilian governments, military rule, political crises, economic changes, social transformation and the return of democratic government.
The Yorùbá people have continued to make their contributions to Nigerian public life, business, education, entertainment, literature, technology, sports, politics and culture.
Yet there is still another responsibility for the present generation.
That responsibility is preservation.
We must ensure that our children do not grow up knowing the names of foreign places, traditions and historical figures while knowing little about their own ancestral heritage.
1 October: Remember Nigeria, Remember Your Roots
When we look at the photograph of Nigeria’s independence ceremony in Lagos, we see the birth of a country.
But when we look more deeply, we can also see layers of history.
We see Lagos and its Yorùbá heritage.
We see Nigerian nationalists and political leaders from different backgrounds.
We see a generation that believed Nigerians could take responsibility for their own affairs.
And we see the beginning of a national journey that continues today.
For Ilẹ̀ Abínibí, celebrating 1 October therefore means celebrating Nigeria while remembering the histories of the peoples who make up the nation.
Happy Independence Day, Nigeria! 🇳🇬
As the Green-White-Green flag flies proudly this 1 October, may we also remember the languages, cultures, traditions and histories that give meaning to the word Abínibí.
From Lagos to Yorùbáland, from our ancestors to the generations yet unborn, our history is worth remembering and our culture is worth preserving.
What does 1 October 1960 mean to you?
When you hear “1 October 1960”, what immediately comes to mind?
Nigeria’s independence? Lagos? Chief Obafemi Awolowo? Our Yorùbá heritage? The Green-White-Green flag? Or the responsibility of preserving our history for the next generation?
Share your thoughts with Ilẹ̀ Abínibí.
Ẹ kú Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun àti Àjọyọ̀ Òmìnira! 🇳🇬
Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!
