Colonial Nigeria
Explore Nigeria’s colonial era (c. 1861–1960), from the annexation of Lagos and the Royal Niger Company to the 1914 amalgamation and the road to independence. This category examines British administration, missionary education, commerce and railways, taxation and labor, cultural change and urban life, and the rise of nationalist movements, including women’s protests, unions, and political parties. Discover biographies, key events, and documents that reveal resistance, collaboration, and everyday experiences across Nigeria’s regions.
Nigerian Students in Britain: Education, Challenges, and Post-Colonial Impact
In the years surrounding Nigeria’s independence in 1960, thousands of young Nigerians travelled to the United Kingdom to pursue higher education. These students represented...
Ikoyi, Lagos: From Colonial Reservation to Urban Landmark
Ikoyi is one of the most affluent districts in Lagos, Nigeria, situated east of Obalende and bordering the Lagos Lagoon. Known today for its...
The Collapse of Royal Authority in Ijebu, Two Kings Removed by Colonial Power
In many Yoruba communities, kingship carried sacred authority as well as political power. The oba was not only a leader, he was also a...
Queen Elizabeth II’s 1956 Visit to Nigeria
In 1956 Queen Elizabeth II made her first official visit to Nigeria between 28 January and 16 February, four years before Nigeria attained independence....
How Christianity Spread Through Education in Nigeria
Christianity is often described through preaching, public worship, and the work of missionaries. Yet one of its most consistent and effective forces was education....
A Christmas Photograph from 1963 in South London
On 25 December 1963, a photograph was taken inside a private home in South London. The image shows two young women decorating a Christmas...
The 1950 Ikeja Airport Photo That Captures BOAC’s “Homer” Refuelling in Lagos
On 8 October 1950, a photograph taken at Ikeja Airport, Lagos captured a straightforward operational scene, a BOAC four engine aircraft, registered G-ALOP and...
West African Airways Corporation, Complete History of WAAC and the Birth of Nigeria Airways
In the decade after the Second World War, air travel in British West Africa shifted from scattered services into a coordinated regional system. That...
From Colonial Mail to National Service, The General Post Office, Marina, Lagos Island
On Marina, Lagos Island, the General Post Office has long stood as a landmark many people recognise, even if they have never stepped inside....
A Policeman in Ibadan During the Late Colonial Era of Nigerian Law Enforcement
A uniformed policeman stands outside a sturdy masonry building, his posture formal, his presence unmistakably official. The detail that draws the eye is the...