Nigeria played a critical role in Africa’s independence movement, utilising its political, diplomatic, and intellectual influence to support its decolonisation. Among African intellectuals, a growing consensus emerged that European political and economic systems were deliberately exploiting the colonies.
This belief was bolstered by a new, wider, and mobilisable public willing to support the independence cause. 1946 French West African politicians formed the African Democratic Rally (RDA), a federation-wide political association. Initially aligned with the French Communist Party—the primary opposition to the French Fourth Republic’s government—the RDA faced severe suppression by colonial administrations between 1948 and 1950.
In British West Africa, tensions were particularly pronounced in the Gold Coast. In 1947, Kwame Nkrumah, educated in the United States and Britain and active in the Pan-African movement, was invited to lead a nationalist party with broad mass support.
By 1948, boycotts of European trading houses and riots in major towns prompted an official inquiry, which recommended greater African participation in governance.
This led to a 1951 constitution that created an assembly dominated by elected African members. Nkrumah’s political party subsequently negotiated concessions with the British, culminating in the Gold Coast’s independence as Ghana in 1957.
Inspired by Ghana’s example, other British West African colonies pursued independence. However, Ghana’s advantages—a lucrative cocoa trade, widespread education, and limited ethnic divisions—were not shared by all.
For instance, The Gambia’s small size delayed its independence until 1965, while Sierra Leone’s deeply rooted disparities between its Creole elite and other communities hindered progress. When Sierra Leone gained independence in 1961, many underlying issues remained unresolved.
Nigeria posed the most complex challenge. In the south, two major nationalist parties emerged: the Yoruba-supported Action Group (AG) in the west and the Igbo-backed National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) in the east.
These parties anticipated a swift transition to self-governance, following Ghana’s path. However, the northern region—home to 57% of the population and less socioeconomically developed—resisted rapid change. Its conservative Muslim aristocratic leaders, closely allied with British colonial administrators, were wary of Southern dominance.
To address this, Nigeria was restructured into a federation of three regions in 1957, allowing the East and West to attain internal self-government while the North lagged. Eventually, northern leaders formed a coalition with the NCNC to maintain influence and secure independence. This led to Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
Meanwhile, in French West Africa, the RDA, under Félix Houphouët-Boigny, broke ties with the French Communist Party and sought reforms from the non-Communist coalitions in France’s unstable governments. By 1956, these efforts expanded colonial franchises and African ministerial roles.
However, leaders like Léopold Sédar Senghor in Senegal and Ahmed Sékou Touré in Guinea opposed Houphouët-Boigny’s approach, fearing it would fragment the West African federation into weak and impoverished states.
1958, the collapse of France’s Fourth Republic brought Charles de Gaulle to power. A referendum offered colonies internal self-government within a French Community, but Guinea, led by Sékou Touré, opted for complete independence. By 1960, all French colonies had gained independence, although some initially negotiated conditions for association with France.
Portugal and Spain, however, clung to their colonies. In 1962, Guinean nationalists launched an armed struggle against Portuguese rule, which, along with wars in Mozambique and Angola, led to the overthrow of Portugal’s dictatorship in 1974. This resulted in the independence of Guinea-Bissau (1974), Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe (1975). Spain, in contrast, hastily granted independence to its colonies, such as Equatorial Guinea, in 1968.
Key Aspects of Nigeria’s Contribution
1. Advocacy for Pan-Africanism
Nigeria has been a staunch supporter of Pan-Africanism, a global movement that fosters solidarity and unity among African nations and peoples of African descent. This philosophy emphasises shared history and collective destiny, originating from the struggles against slavery, colonialism, and oppression. At its core, Pan-Africanism seeks to “unify and uplift” African peoples worldwide, promoting economic, social, and political progress.
Nigeria’s contributions to Pan-Africanism date back to the efforts of its nationalists who collaborated in shaping modern African integration. Prominent Nigerian leaders, such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, played pivotal roles in advancing Pan-African ideals. Collaborating with other visionaries like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Azikiwe championed African unity and liberation.
Efforts of these visionary Nigerian leaders led to the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, now the African Union (AU), and the formulation of strategic frameworks such as the 1979 Monrovia Strategy, the 1980 Lagos Plan of Action, the Abuja Treaty of 1991, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). These initiatives aimed to advance economic development and eradicate poverty across the continent.
2. Support for Liberation Movements
Upon gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria became a prominent advocate for the liberation of African countries under colonial rule and racial oppression. Nigeria’s commitment to African emancipation began under Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa, who prioritised the eradication of colonialism and racial discrimination as central to the country’s foreign policy.
3. Opposition to Apartheid
Nigeria was one of the most vocal opponents of apartheid in South Africa, providing unwavering political, financial, and moral support to the liberation cause. The country funded the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organisations, supported international sanctions against South Africa, and established the National Committee Against Apartheid (NACAP) to raise awareness and mobilise action within Nigeria.
4. Founding Role in the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)
Nigeria played a central role as a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), established on May 25, 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 32 African states initially signed the charter. The OAU, now succeeded by the African Union (AU), aimed to promote African unity, eradicate colonialism and white minority rule, and foster political and economic integration.
5. Economic and Educational Support
Nigeria played a pivotal role in empowering future leaders of liberation movements by offering scholarships and training opportunities to citizens of other African nations. Nigerian universities became hubs for educating young Africans from colonised countries.
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Conclusion
Nigeria’s contributions to the African independence movement extended beyond rhetoric, encompassing material support, active diplomacy, and intellectual leadership. Its commitment to Africa’s freedom and development cemented its reputation as a key player in the struggle for decolonisation and the broader fight for African unity and self-determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What role did Nigeria play in Africa’s independence movement?
Nigeria played a critical role in Africa’s independence movement, leveraging its political, diplomatic, and intellectual influence to support decolonisation. The country provided financial and logistical aid to liberation movements, advocated for African unity, and played a key role in establishing the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.
- How did Nigeria contribute to the fight against apartheid in South Africa?
Nigeria was a staunch opponent of apartheid, providing financial and diplomatic support to the African National Congress (ANC) and other anti-apartheid organisations. The country funded the Southern Africa Relief Fund (SAFR), imposed economic sanctions against South Africa, refused to sell oil to the apartheid regime, and chaired the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid for 30 years.
- What was Nigeria’s role in founding the Organization of African Unity (OAU)?
Nigeria was a founding member of the OAU, established in 1963 to promote African unity and eradicate colonialism. Nigeria actively supported liberation movements, defended the sovereignty of African nations, and contributed to initiatives aimed at economic and political integration. The OAU later evolved into the African Union (AU) in 2002.
- How did Nigeria support liberation movements in Africa?
After gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria provided moral, financial, and logistical support to liberation movements in Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa. It hosted exiled leaders, severed ties with colonial powers supporting oppression, and lobbied international organisations to recognise and support African freedom fighters.
- What economic and educational contributions did Nigeria make to Africa’s development?
Nigeria played a key role in Africa’s economic and educational development by offering scholarships and training opportunities to students from colonised nations. It was also instrumental in founding the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to promote regional trade, investment, and economic integration among West African nations.
