NIGERIA FEDERAL CAPITAL ABUJA
Subject : History
Topic : State Creation in Nigeria 1976
Class : Primary 4
Term : First Term
Week : Week 6
Instructional Materials :
- Political map showing Lagos, Calabar, Lokoja and Asaba
- Political map of Nigeria showing 36 states
- Photograph of various state governors and Nigerian Military Head of State who created these states
Reference Materials
- Scheme of Work
- Online Information
- Textbooks
- Workbooks
- 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum
- Map of Nigeria
- Charts or diagrams showing the division of the country into regions and states
- Whiteboard and markers or an overhead projector
Previous Knowledge :
The pupils have previous knowledge of the 36 states and capitals in the Nigeria.
Behavioural Objectives : At the end of the lesson, the pupils should be able to
- Describe the federal capital
- Names the areas that have been named Federal capital before
- Explain why these states were created
- To learn about the Federal Capital of Nigeria and its location
- To understand why Abuja was chosen as the Federal Capital
- To understand the history of the Federal Capital of Nigeria
Learning Activities :
- Pupils are guided to list states that were named as capital of Nigeria before Abuja
- Pupils in pairs discuss the effects of the state creation
- Pupils are guided to name the state created from the four regions
Embedded Core Skills :
- Digital Literacy
- Leadership and Personal Development
- Citizenship
- Critical thinking and problem solving
Content
Abuja is the capital of Nigeria. It’s like the heart of the country, where important decisions are made for the whole of Nigeria. Abuja is a special city, because it’s not part of any of the 36 states in Nigeria. Instead, it’s its own separate area called the Federal Capital Territory. This means that the government of Nigeria has control over it, instead of a state government. Abuja is where the President of Nigeria lives and works, and it’s also where many important government buildings, like the National Assembly and Supreme Court, are located.
Before Abuja became the capital of Nigeria, there were two other cities that served as the federal capital. The first one was Lagos, which was the capital from 1914 to 1991. Lagos is a big city located on the coast of Nigeria and was the center of trade and commerce in the country.
In 1991, the capital of Nigeria was moved from Lagos to Abuja. This was done because the government wanted to have the capital in a more central location, so it would be easier for people from all parts of the country to come and visit their government leaders.
So, before Abuja, Lagos was the federal capital of Nigeria from 1914 to 1991.
Evaluation
- What year did Abuja become the federal capital of Nigeria? A) 1991 B) 1914 C) 1976 D) 1987
- What was the reason for moving the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja? A) To have a more central location B) To be closer to the coast C) To be closer to other countries D) To have more space
- Where was the federal capital of Nigeria located before Abuja? A) Lagos B) Kano C) Port Harcourt D) Jos
- How long was Lagos the federal capital of Nigeria? A) 1914-1991 B) 1976-1987 C) 1991-present D) 1987-1991
- Was Lagos a big city before it became the federal capital of Nigeria? A) Yes B) No
- Why was Lagos important before it became the federal capital of Nigeria? A) It was the center of trade and commerce B) It was the largest city in Nigeria C) It was close to other countries D) It was located on the coast
- Was Abuja the first city to be chosen as the federal capital of Nigeria? A) Yes B) No
- Is Abuja located on the coast of Nigeria? A) Yes B) No
- Did the government move the federal capital to Abuja to make it easier for people to visit their government leaders? A) Yes B) No
- Was the move from Lagos to Abuja a controversial decision? A) Yes B) No
Lesson Presentation
Introduction:
- Ask the students if they know where the capital of Nigeria is located.
- Ask the students if they know what the capital of a country is for.
Instruction:
- Show the map of Nigeria and point to Abuja, the capital city.
- Explain to the students that Abuja is the Federal Capital of Nigeria, and that it is where the government of Nigeria works from.
- Tell the students that Abuja became the Federal Capital in 1991, replacing Lagos as the previous Federal Capital.
- Show the students pictures of previous Federal capitals of Nigeria (i.e. Lagos and Calabar) and explain why they were chosen as the Federal Capital at the time.
- Discuss with the students the reasons why the capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja, such as the need for a more central location and the pressure of a rapidly growing population in Lagos.
- Ask the students to reflect on the benefits of having a designated capital city and the importance of the Federal Capital in the governance of a country.
Conclusion:
- Summarize the main points of the lesson, such as the history and purpose of the Federal Capital in Nigeria, and why Abuja was chosen as the current Federal Capital.
- Encourage the students to learn more about the government and other important places in Nigeria and in their own country.
Assessment:
- Ask the students to create a short poster or presentation about the Federal Capital of Nigeria and its history, including the reasons for choosing Abuja as the current capital.
Weekly Test / Assignment
- The federal capital of Nigeria is __________.
- Abuja became the federal capital of Nigeria in the year __________.
- Before Abuja, Lagos was the federal capital of Nigeria for __________ years.
- The idea to move the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja was first proposed in __________.
- The city of Abuja was chosen as the new federal capital because it is located in the __________ region of Nigeria.
- The government of Nigeria officially moved its headquarters to Abuja in the year __________.
- The relocation of the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja was done in order to promote __________ and development in other parts of Nigeria.
- The National Assembly building, the residence of the Nigerian President and other important government buildings are located in __________.
- Abuja has become one of the most developed cities in Nigeria, with modern __________ and infrastructure.
- Some popular tourist attractions in Abuja include the __________, the National Mosque, and the National Christian Centre
Note
Calabar was not named the capital of Nigeria. Lagos was the previous capital of Nigeria before Abuja became the capital in 1991. The reason for choosing Abuja as the capital was due to Lagos becoming overcrowded and Abuja being seen as a symbol of national unity. However, the idea of Calabar being the first capital of Nigeria is controversial and not widely accepted.