The Early Regions in Nigeria for Primary 4

The Early Regions in Nigeria

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. identify the four early regions in Nigeria;
2. identify the locations of each of the regions in the map of Nigeria;
3. identify the major ethnic groups in the regions;
4. Identify Reasons for establishing 4 regions.

Meaning of a Region

In history, a region is a large area of a country that is governed separately from other parts. Nigeria was once divided into these large areas to make it easier to manage the country.

Formation of Early Regions in Nigeria

Before Nigeria became fully independent and for some years after, the country was divided into large administrative areas called regions. This division helped the government to manage the diverse people and vast land more effectively. Initially, there were three main regions: the Northern, Eastern, and Western Regions.

Later, a fourth region, the Mid-Western Region, was created. This happened in 1963, carved out from the old Western Region. These four regions existed until 1967 when Nigeria was further divided into states.

The Four Early Regions

The four early regions that existed in Nigeria before the creation of states were:

1. Northern Region
2. Western Region
3. Eastern Region
4. Mid-Western Region

Location of the Early Regions

Each of these regions occupied a specific part of Nigeria:

1. Northern Region: This region covered the entire northern part of Nigeria. It was the largest of all the regions by land mass.
2. Western Region: This region was located in the southwestern part of Nigeria. After the Mid-Western Region was created, the Western Region became smaller.
3. Eastern Region: This region was located in the southeastern part of Nigeria, stretching towards the coast.
4. Mid-Western Region: This region was located in the south-central part of Nigeria, created from the Western Region.

Observe the map below to see the locations of these early regions.

Major Ethnic Groups in Each Region

Each region was home to several ethnic groups, but some were more dominant:

1. Northern Region: The major ethnic groups included the Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Nupe, Tiv, Igala, and Gwari.
2. Western Region: The dominant ethnic group was the Yoruba.
3. Eastern Region: The major ethnic groups included the Igbo, Ibibio, Efik, and Ijaw.
4. Mid-Western Region: The major ethnic groups included the Edo, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ijaw, and Esan.

Important Political Developments and Leaders

During the time of the regions, important political leaders emerged and worked to develop their regions and prepare Nigeria for independence.

1. Northern Region: Sir Ahmadu Bello was the Premier of the Northern Region. Under his leadership, the region achieved self-governance and focused on education and economic development.
2. Western Region: Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the Premier of the Western Region. His government introduced free primary education and free health services, and also achieved self-governance for the region.
3. Eastern Region: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the Premier of the Eastern Region. He played a key role in Nigeria’s independence movement and led the region to self-governance.
4. Mid-Western Region: Chief Dennis Osadebay was the first Premier of the Mid-Western Region. The creation of this region was a significant political development, as it was the first time a new region was created in Nigeria.

Reasons for Creating the Four Regions

The decision to divide Nigeria into regions was made for several important reasons:

1. Easier Administration: Nigeria is a very large country with many different communities. Dividing it into regions made it easier for the government to manage and administer different parts of the country effectively.
2. Bringing Government Closer to the People: With regional governments, people felt that their leaders were closer to them and could better understand and address their local needs and problems.
3. Representation for Diverse Ethnic Groups: Nigeria has hundreds of ethnic groups. Creating regions allowed major ethnic groups to have more say in how their areas were governed and to protect their cultures and traditions. For example, the creation of the Mid-Western Region helped to give the minority groups in that area their own regional government.
4. Faster Development: Each region could focus on its own development plans, leading to competition and faster progress in areas like education, health, and infrastructure.