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.
The C.M.S. Bookshop Corner on Broad Street
Broad Street has always carried weight in the story of Lagos Island. It is a street shaped by trade, administration, education, and movement, a...
Why Nigeria Recalled Its High Commissioner from Tanzania in 1968 After Biafra’s Recognition
In mid April 1968, Nigeria took a dramatic diplomatic step that sent a clear message across the African continent. Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Tanzania,...
Carter Bridge and Street Lighting in Colonial Lagos, How Power and Inequality Shaped the City After Dark
A 1940s black and white photograph shows a lone man walking west to east along the northern side of Carter Bridge. Near him stands...
From Cardiff to Tokyo, The International Career of Nigeria’s Early High Jump Pioneer, Amelia Okoli
Nigeria’s women’s athletics story did not begin with packed stadiums or global television coverage. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, opportunities for Nigerian...
The First Target, Why British Colonialism Moved Against Indigenous Religion Early in Nigeria
British colonialism in Nigeria did not treat indigenous religion as a private or symbolic part of life. In many Nigerian societies, religion was inseparable...
Rev. T. A. J. Ogunbiyi, Anglican Cleric, Educator, and Founder of the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity
Rev. Thomas Adesina Jacobson Ogunbiyi occupies a distinct place in the social and religious history of colonial Lagos. Remembered most widely as the founder...
From Gangway to Governance, The Life and Legacy of Lagos Mayor Abubakar Olorun Nimbe
On 26 September 1951, Abubakar Ibiyinka Olorun Nimbe was photographed stepping down from a ship at Apapa Port in Lagos. The image captures a...
The Olympic Hotel, Broad Street, Lagos
The Olympic Hotel once stood on Broad Street, Lagos Island, at a time when the street formed the backbone of the city’s commercial and...
Casa do Fernandez, The Rise and Destruction of a Brazilian Baroque Landmark in Lagos
At one of the most historic corners of Lagos Island, near the busy flow of Tinubu Square, there once stood a building that quietly...
From Race Course to Power Centre, The Lost Story of Lagos’s First Parliament
On Lagos Island, just beyond the traffic and commerce that define the city today, lies a space bound tightly to Nigeria’s national story. It...