Did You Celebrate Nigerian Independence Day?

This past Saturday, Oct. 1 was Nigerian Independence Day and marked 62 years of independence. African history, Nigerian history specifically, isn’t a topic that is touched on heavily in American schooling. On this day in 1960, Nigeria gained independence from the British empire for 95 years with the help of an act created by the late Queen Elizabeth.

After they were granted independence, the road to recovery was a little rocky, and the country went into its own civil war in 1967. This civil war led to Nigeria being under military rule for the next couple of years. 1999 was the first year that citizens were allowed to rule their own country. Olusegun Obasanjo was elected president this year and was re-elected again in 2003.

A significant difference between Nigerian Independence Day and the Independence Day that we celebrate in the United States is that there isn’t much celebration. These are more casual rest days.