The West African territory now known as Nigeria was first discovered in 1472 by researchers from Portugal who were seeking a sea route to Asia. Their names are Joao de Santarem, Lopo Goncalves, Pero Escobar and Fernao do Po. However, this article is about the person who gave Nigeria her name. Read on to find out more about her.
Brief history of Nigeria
It may interest you to know that Nigeria was not given its name by Nigerians themselves, but by the European colonizers. Prior to this, the four main kingdoms that made up the country were Borno, Hausa in the north, Benin and Oyo in the south. Each of them had their own unique artistic, cultural and agricultural traditions; they also existed as separate countries.
The guests from Portugal organized trade with the local population and this gradually developed into a slave trade. As a result, more than 3.5 million people were turned into slaves and exported, mainly to America.
According to historical sources, the country received its present name in 1897 when the continent was actively colonized. Most other modern African countries did not exist that time.
Colonization changed Africa in many ways especially in relation to the centralization of colonial territories in Nigeria. Before that, 370 tribes existed in the country; these tribes were eventually united under a common government. The differences amongst people in the country have remained to this day since the term “Nigerian” refers to a certain territory, not a nationality.
Today, more than 500 languages are spoken in Nigeria, but English is by far the most important one. The most part of the population communicate using it.
READ ALSO: Who composed the old Nigerian national anthem?
Who discovered Nigeria as a country?
- The name of our country is connected with the Niger River.
- Interestingly, the country was given it name by a woman named Flora Shaw, in the 19th century.
- In 1886, Lady Shaw was a journalist from Britain who participated in the Brussels conference on the struggle against slavery. She was the only female representative at this event.
- She also served as an editor in The Times.
- This woman was very fond of Nigerian customs and made them part of her life. Her husband was a local colonial administrator. After marriage, she changed her surname to Lugard.
- Her husband was the acting governor of Hong Kong, and also Governor-General in our country.
- Thanks to this wonderful woman, universities, hospitals and schools appeared in our country and other parts of the world.
- During the First World War, she participated in the works of the Committee of War Refugees and founded her own Hospitality Committee.
- In 1918, she was awarded the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire Order.
Even though Flora Shaw is not an African, we cannot deny her good works in the country. Every Nigerian interested in historical facts about Nigeria must know the name of this prominent personality - Flora Shaw.
READ ALSO: 5 Nigerian National Symbols and Their Meaning
Source: Naija.ng