Nigerian History
Nigerian History explores the people, events, and ideas that have shaped Africa’s most populous nation. From the rise of powerful precolonial kingdoms and the impact of British colonial rule to the struggle for independence, civil war, and modern nation-building, this category brings Nigeria’s past to life through detailed narratives and verified historical accounts. Here, readers discover stories of leadership, resilience, culture, and transformation — tracing how Nigeria’s diverse heritage continues to influence its present and future.
Owiwi War: The Decisive 1832 Battle That Transformed Abeokuta and Yorubaland
The Owiwi War of 1832 came at a dangerous moment in the history of Abeokuta. The Egba settlement had only recently been established, the...
Who is Lt-Col Abogo Largema?
Lieutenant-Colonel Abogo Largema was Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 4th Battalion at Ibadan when Nigeria’s First Republic entered its final hours. Yet when...
Alhaja Bintu Ofili: The Woman Behind Sunny Adé’s ‘Alhaja Bintu’ and a 1977 Currency Case
Alhaja Bintu Ofili occupies an unusual place in the social history of 1970s Nigeria. Her name became associated with Sunny Adé’s early juju music...
The Western Nigeria Housing Corporation
The Western Nigeria Housing Corporation occupies an important place in Nigeria’s urban history. Created during the final years of colonial rule, the institution helped...
Fela Kuti £1,600 airport case: The dramatic 1984 arrest that ended in a five-year sentence
The Fela Kuti £1,600 airport case began on 4 September 1984 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Fela Anikulapo Kuti was preparing to...
Captain Sinmisola Ajibola: The Woman Who Took Command of the Skies
There was a time when the sight of a woman sitting in the captain's seat of a Nigerian commercial aircraft was unusual enough to...
Jaja Wachuku’s Famous “Sleeping” Photo Was Actually a Protest
For years, one photograph has been used to tell a very simple story about Nigerian diplomacy.Jaja Wachuku is seated at the United Nations with...
Anthony Ndubuisi: The Shoe Dealer and the Bodies Found in His Septic Tank
Anthony Ndubuisi was known in Port Harcourt as a shoe dealer. He had a business, a home and neighbours who saw him as an...
How Hannah Awolowo Tried to Create a Way Back to Parliament for Her Imprisoned Husband
There was a problem in Nigeria's Parliament in the mid 1960s that could not be solved by an ordinary election.Obafemi Awolowo, one of the...
The Good Side of Sani Abacha: What His Government Built
For many Nigerians, the name Sani Abacha immediately brings back memories of military dictatorship, political repression, the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and the...