On this day in 1890, British journalist and writer Flora Shaw, who later got married to Lord Lugard, the former governor-general of Nigeria in 1902, coined the name ‘Nigeria'.
Nigeria, the most populated black country and the number one economy on the African continent, didn’t exist until 1914 when three regions were amalgamated by the British Colonial masters.
Flora Shaw combined the words “Niger” and “Area” to form the name Nigeria. In other words, the nation’s name was gotten from its longest river, River Niger.
Over the cause of time, the word Niger Area, transformed into Nigeria. And this has been in use ever since.
However, before amalgamation took place all the various regions existed on their own, albeit with separate governments and separate names.
Nigeria is blessed and lucky to have its origin tied to Flora Shaw who was more than just a journalist. She was a pioneer for the abolition of slave trade which greatly ravaged the African continent and several parts of the world.
Lady Lugard died on the 25th of January 1929, after falling ill with pneumonia.
No comments:
Post a Comment