By Folu
Sixty-five years ago, on October 1st, 1960, the Union Jack was lowered, and the Green-White-Green flag of Nigeria rose high into the sky. That moment marked the birth of Africa’s most populous nation as a sovereign state. But independence did not arrive overnight. It was the fruit of decades of resistance, negotiation, and sacrifice.
Before Independence
Colonial rule brought both forced unification and division. Nigeria’s diverse peoples, Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, and over 250 ethnic groups were merged under one administrative umbrella by Britain. The colonial economy exploited our resources groundnuts from the North, cocoa from the West, palm oil from the East, yet left us with little industrial infrastructure.
But the human spirit yearned for freedom. From the 1920s to the 1950s, movements for self-rule grew stronger. The voices of nationalists, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Anthony Enahoro, Herbert Macaulay rose above the colonial noise, calling for independence. They gave Nigerians belief in their right to self-determination.
Independence and the Aftermath
When independence came in 1960, joy filled the land. Nigeria was celebrated as a beacon of hope in Africa, rich with natural and human resources, positioned to become a global leader. But soon, challenges emerged. Tribal tensions, power struggles, and weak institutions led to military coups and civil war. The promise of unity was tested again and again.
Democracy and Military Rule
The 1960s and beyond became a cycle of democracy interrupted by military rule. Military regimes justified their takeovers by pointing to corruption and inefficiency, but too often, they worsened them. Yet each return to democracy 1979, 1999 rekindled hope. Nigerians have never given up on democracy, however imperfect.
The Decline of Infrastructure and Rise of Corruption
Instead of the prosperity our resources promised, we saw the disintegration of infrastructure. Power supply became unreliable, roads crumbled, refineries stopped working, public education weakened, and hospitals decayed. Corruption, looting, and mismanagement drained the nation’s wealth.
Nigerians, like the Israelites in the wilderness, found themselves scattered across the world, not because of war, but because of wasted opportunities. We became economic migrants, doctors in London, engineers in Canada, students in the US, entrepreneurs in Dubai chasing dreams that Nigeria should have made possible at home.
The Spirit of Nigeria Refuses to Die
And yet, Nigeria endures. The spirit of resilience in Nigerians is unmatched. Wherever we go, we excel. From Chimamanda Adichie in literature, to Burna Boy in music, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in economics, Tobi Amusan in athletics, Nigerians continue to show brilliance. We still love Nigeria. We still long for Nigeria. We still believe in Nigeria.
What We Must Do to Be Truly Independent
True independence is not just freedom from colonial rule; it is freedom from poverty, corruption, and self-sabotage. To be truly independent, Nigeria must:
- Build strong, corruption-proof institutions.
- Prioritise education, innovation, and technology.
- Invest in infrastructure and healthcare for all.
- Embrace unity in diversity, not division.
- Empower the diaspora to “japada” to return home and rebuild, turning brain drain into brain gain.
Happy Independence Day, Nigeria
At 65, we reflect on how far we have come and how far we must go. Nigeria is still a work in progress. But as long as Nigerians refuse to give up on Nigeria, there is hope.
Happy Independence Day, my motherland. May the next 65 years bring the Nigeria we dream of.
#NigeriaAt65 #HappyIndependenceDay #WeMove #JapadaNotJapa
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