The Federation of Nigeria was a predecessor to modern-day

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

from 1954 to 1963. It was a British protectorate until its independence on 1 October 1960. British rule of

Colonial Nigeria Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to British subjects in 1807. Britain an ...

ended in 1960, when the ''Nigeria Independence Act 1960'' made the federation an independent

sovereign state A sovereign state or sovereign country, is a political entity represented by one central government that has supreme legitimate authority over territory. International law defines sovereign states as having a permanent population, defined ter ...

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states durin ...

remained head of state as the

Queen of Nigeria Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mo ...

, as well as other dominions and commonwealth realms. Her constitutional roles in Nigeria were exercisable by the

Governor-General of Nigeria The Governor-General of Nigeria was the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom in Colonial Nigeria from 1954 to 1960, and after Nigerian independence in 1960, the representative of the Nigerian head of state. The office was created ...

. Three people held the office of governor-general during the whole existence of the Federation of Nigeria: # Sir

John Stuart Macpherson Sir John Stuart Macpherson, GCMG (25 August 1898 – 5 November 1971) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor-General of Nigeria from 1948 to 1955. Early life Born in Edinburgh, the son of a hotel manager, Macpherso ...

1954 - 15 June 1955 # Sir

James Wilson Robertson Sir James Wilson Robertson, (27 October 189923 September 1983) was a British civil servant who served as the last colonial governor-general of Nigeria from 1955 to 1960. Early life and education He was educated at Merchiston Castle Scho ...

15 June 1955 - 16 November 1960 # Dr.

Nnamdi Azikiwe Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, (16 November 1904 – 11 May 1996), usually referred to as "Zik", was a Nigerian statesman and political leader who served as the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. Considered a driving force behind the n ...

16 November 1960 – 1 October 1963 Sir

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (December 1912 – 15 January 1966) was a Nigerian politician who served as the first and only Prime Minister of Nigeria upon independence. Early life Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was born in December 1912 in modern-day ...

held office as

prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

(and

head of government The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...

). The

Federal Republic of Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of ...

came into existence on 1 October 1963.Nigeria Republic Act 1963, c. 57 The monarchy was abolished and Nigeria became a

republic within the Commonwealth A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

. Following the abolition of the monarchy, former Governor-General

became

President of Nigeria The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the head of state and head of government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Nigeri ...

, as a ceremonial post under the 1963 constitution. Elizabeth II visited Nigeria in 1956 (28 January–16 February).

Stamps of the Federation

Queen stamp Nigeria.jpg, Coronation stamp, 1953 BR-NGA 1953 MiNr0073 pm B002.jpg, Depicting the groundnuts harvest, 1953 BR-NGA 1953 MiNr0074 pm B002.jpg, Depicting tin mining in Nigeria, 1953 Nigeria royal visit stamp 1956.jpg, Overprinted to mark the Queen's visit in 1956 Nigeria 3d Victoria Centenary stamp 1958.jpg, Commemorating the centenary of the city of

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, 1958

References

External links

* * * * * * * {{Former Monarchies States and territories established in 1960 States and territories disestablished in 1963

Government of Nigeria Political history of Nigeria Nigeria and the Commonwealth of Nations

Monarchy A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state for life or until abdication. The political legitimacy and authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic ( constitutional monar ...

Politics of Nigeria 1960 establishments in Nigeria 1963 disestablishments in Nigeria

Stamps of the Federation

See also

References

External links