LitCaf Encyclopedia

18th Emir of Zaria installed

An unprecedented crowd of well over 100,000 spectators were at the Zaria Race Course to see Alhaji Shehu Idris officially installed at the 18th Emir of Zaria in the North-Central State.

- Daily Times, April 17, 1975

Babangida endorses Obasanjo for U.N. job

For Nigeria’s former head of state, Obasanjo, the road to the United Nations is not likely to be paved with roses. But with the reported endorsement of his candidacy by the Babangida government, the journey to New York might just be a bit less tortuous

- TSN, April 21, 1991

NBC bans miracle on air

The Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation had taken a dive into controversial waters when it ordered broadcast stations in the country to expunge portions of religious programmes containing unverified claims of miracles with effect from April 30. Oyakhilome's viewers would be the most affected by the latest NBC directive.

- Newswatch, April 19, 2004

UI Archaeologists find ancient Oyo Empire palace

The excavation revealed a large courtyard of the Old Oyo Empire with many rooms and in its centre, a rectangular building thought to have been a kitchen. Several complete and broken pottery vessels were found In one corner, and in another two fire places with a broken conking pot still in position.

- Daily Times, April 17, 1975

1926-29

• St Gregory's College founded in Lagos (26)
• Sanusi Olusi succeeds Ibikunle Akitoye, Oba of Lagos who died (26)

• SCOA Nigeria Plc. starts business in Kano as a private company (27)

• Adeyemo Alakija starts Daily Times with friends (28)
• Famine in Northern Nigeria with high death toll. (28)
• Government College Ibadan founded (28)

• Railway Department dismisses Michael Imoudu for organising workers for action (29)

1930-33

• Nigeria Police established
• As first step in post-secondary education in Nigeria, the Yaba Medical School was established to train medical assistants with the award of a diploma

• Joseph Ayo Babalola’s revivals enlivens Christian life in Ilesa     (30)
• The first foreign firm of chartered accountants in Nigeria established as Edward Casselton Elliot & Co. (30)
• British Treaty cedes Bakassi to Germany (31)
• Igbobi College established (32)
• Falolu becomes Oba of Lagos (32)
• Ahmadu Bello, the great-grandson of Dan Fodiyo, wants to be Sultan, but loses the contest to his cousin, AbubakarSidiq III who is installed with the help of British troops. (33)
• Middle Belt People's Party co-founded by Sunday Olawoyin (33)
• National Bank of Nigeria established (33)

1934-36

• Nnamdi Azikiwe comes back to Nigeria with a string of degrees from the U.S. (34)
• National Youth Movement founded (34)
• First Argungu Festival held, as a goodwill gesture and celebration of peace between the people of Sokoto and Argungu (34)
• Teacher salary structure of 1926 is downscaled by up to 20 percent as global Great Depression hits Lagos (34)

• Dr. JC Omosanya Vaughan writes book; Yoruba Women in Medicine practice, Native and Modern (35)
• Traditional rulers in Yorubaland meet face to face for the first time (36)
• Awolowo with Samuel Akinsanya organizes a successful 8-day strike of motor transport owners in the Western Region (36)
• Eleko Esugbayi reinstated as Lagos Oba after fierce legal battle (36)
• Nnamdi  Azikiwe moves to Lagos to start the West African Pilot (36)

1938-40

• Nnamdi Azikiwe’s National Youth Movement wins election to Lagos Town Council (38)
• Shell enters into collaboration with British Petroleum (formerly Anglo-Persian Oil Company) for oil prospection in Nigeria. (38)
• More Ife sculptures discovered when builders laying the foundation of a house. First discovery was 28 years prior.(38)
• Ogboju Ode Ninu Igbo Irunmole (The Forest of a Thousand Daemons) by D.O. Fagunwa published. (38)
• Ikoyi Club 1938 founded (38)

• Timothy Odutola announces the emergence of a new class of educated leaders in his essay. Among his mentions are Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Akinsanya (38)
• Governor-General of Nigeria passes time in a bunker during the second World War at a location now occupied as railway staff quarters. (39)

• Palm Wine music plays for the first time in Lagos (39)
• Schism in Ilesa based revival movement leads to the founding of The Apostolic Church and the Christ Apostolic Church (40)
• Egba indigines gear up to support colonialist against Hitler, “aware of the true position of affairs in Europe” (40)

1940-45

• Schism in Ilesa based revival movement leads to the founding of The Apostolic Church and the Christ Apostolic Church (40)
• Egba indigines gear up to support colonialist against Hitler's Nazism, “aware of the true position of affairs in Europe” (40)
• For fear of attack from Vichy France during the second World War, Ibadan Lights Order was made for the cessation of lighting at night in the city of Ibadan (41)

• British Council commences operations in Nigeria (43)
• Following the Ikoli-Akinsanya affair, embittered Nnamdi Azikiwe leaves the National Youth Movement to join hands with Herbert Macaulay and forms the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon, NCNC (44)

• MargareteEkpo starts her political career as she joins the NCNC (44)
• Anthony Enahoro becomes the editor, the Southern Nigerian Defender, Ibadan at the age of 21 (44)
• The Nigerian regiment returns from engagement abroad during the second World War (44)

• First Nigerian record label that will discover talents like Sunny Ade, Tunde Nightingale, Idowu  Animashaun, Kayode Fashola, among others; TYC Records, is formed. (44)
• Egba women's riots which temporarily deposed the Alake monarch earns Nigeria the abolition of the poll tax on women and the institution of the Universal Adult Suffrage (45)
• Henry Carr, great mathematician, dies (45)
• Herbert Ogunde founded company, Ogunde Concert Party, which is Nigeria's first professional theatrical company (45)

1946-48

• In October, Ogunde’s budding theatrical campaigns takes him to Jos where he stages Sank and Hunger, a play which highlights the plight of workers, and he incurres the wrath of the colonial lords who bannes his work and fines him £125. (46)

• Lagos women close their shops to show respect as Herbert Macaulay dies (46)
• Victor Olaiya’s music career begins in Lagos with the Ekpo Band, a street band with three instruments, two drummers and six sticks players (47)

• Obafemi Awolowo publishes book; Path to Nigerian Freedom (47)
• University College Ibadan is opened October 1 at 56th General Military Hospital on Eleyele Waterworks Road, the temporary campus. (48)
• Cyprian Ekwensi publishes his novella, When Love Whispers (48)
• Alfred Rewan- led protest against racism of Bristol Hotel leads to Governor-General Arthur Richard banning all forms of racial segregation in Nigeria. (48)