Several factors played a major role in Nigeria gaining its independence in 1960, including:
1. Nationalist movements and agitations: Throughout the 1950s, Nigerian nationalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahmadu Bello campaigned for self-governance and independence from British colonial rule. These movements gained momentum and public support, leading to increased pressure on the British government to grant Nigeria independence.
2. Constitutional reforms: The British government introduced constitutional reforms in Nigeria, such as the Macpherson Constitution of 1951 and the Lyttelton Constitution of 1954, which granted Nigerians greater autonomy and representation in government. These reforms laid the groundwork for independence.
3. Oil discovery: The discovery of oil in commercial quantities in Nigeria in the late 1950s boosted the country's economy and provided a new source of revenue that could potentially sustain an independent nation.
4. International pressure: The global decolonization movement, as well as the United Nations' support for self-determination, put pressure on colonial powers such as Britain to grant independence to their colonies.
5. The Wind of Change speech: In 1960, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan delivered his famous "Wind of Change" speech in Cape Town, South Africa, signaling a shift in British policy towards granting independence to its colonies in Africa. This speech further hastened the process of Nigerian independence.
Overall, a combination of nationalist movements, constitutional reforms, economic developments, international pressure, and shifting British policies all played significant roles in Nigeria gaining its independence in 1960.
What played a major role in Nigeria gaining its independence in 1960?
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