The former name for Nigeria before the independence was the Royal Niger Company Territories. It does not sound like a country name at all, right? In this article, I will show with you some notable dates in Nigeria which are very important for every Nigerian to remember.
Meanwhile, the name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was coined on January 8, 1897, by a female British journalist, Flora Shaw, who later married Lord Lugard, a British colonial administrator.
Some notable dates in Nigeria that we are going to discuss right here in this post today cover political dates, notable things that had happened in Nigeria, holiday or dates of observances, for example, religious celebration days and lots more. Please continue reading for every important information about notable dates in Nigeria and remember to write down some places in your hand book if it is needed!
Read this also: how to become a successful Yahoo boy in Nigeria fast, fast (step by step).
While we are researching every day to update the notable dates in Nigeria, some of the information we provide may not complete, hence, if you observe any mistake, please let us know.
Recently, one notable dates which every body in Nigeria can never forget is the event of End SARS protest which took place on 8th October 2020.
The EndSARS protest in Ogbomosho, Oyo State turned violent on October 8th, 2020 as Nigerian Police officers were alleged to have injured seven protesters and shot one young man known as Jimoh Isiaka to dead during the protest.
Meanwhile, some political leaders and traditional rulers of Nigeria used the Nigerian Police officers and other security agencies to forcefully send back protesters while killing and harming them.
Now, let’s start looking at the other notable and important dates from decades till date (2021) in Nigeria to remember. Are you with us? ..Ohh, yes, you are with us!
List of some notable and important dates in Nigeria to remember
Nigeria as the largest country in African continent, a lot of different occasions and events have happened and taken place in it.
Sometimes, the events may be friendly, for example, the establishment of NYSC in 1973 is a friendly event or establishment that had taken place in Nigeria while sometimes, some events may be unfriendly, for example, Sosoliso plane had crashed in Port-Harcourt and claimed different lives, indeed, that is a terrible news.
Now, some notable events and occasions that are important for all concerned persons in Nigeria to always know their dates and remember are discussed below step by step:
| S/N | NAME OF EVENT | DATE |
| 1 | Nigeria Police Force went on strike for the first time | 2nd Feb. 2002 |
| 2 | Completion of Lagos-Ibadan Railway line (123 miles) | 1901 |
| 3 | First government primary school was established at Badagry, Lagos | 1899 |
| 4 | Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT moved from Calabar to Lagos | 1906 |
| 5 | Herbert Macaulay established first political party (NNPC) in Nigeria | 1922 |
| 6 | Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN was established | 1958 |
| 7 | Nigeria gained independence | 1st Oct. 1960 |
| 8 | Ray power started broadcasting service in Nigeria | Sep. 1st 1994 |
| 9 | Kudirat Abiola was killed by assasins | June 4th 1996 |
| 10 | Nigera changed from left drive to right drive | 1972 |
| 11 | Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria moved from Lagos to Abuja | 1991 |
| 12 | Nigeria qualified for the world cup for the first time | 1993 |
| 13 | The presidential election between MKO Abiola and Tofa was cancelled by Babangida | June 23rd 1993 |
| 14 | MKO Abiola was arrested and detained | June 23rd 1994 |
| 15 | Gen. Sani Abacha died in ASO rock, FCT, Abuja | June 8th 1998 |
| 16 | Republic of Biafra was proclaimed | May 30th 1967 |
| 17 | Ikeja bomb explosion occurred | 27th Jan. 2002 |
| 18 | Nigeria won Olympic male soccer gold medal participated in Atlanta, USA | 1996 |
| 19 | Saro Wiwa and eight other people were hanged by Sani Abach government | Nov. 10th 1995 |
| 20 | Uniform of Nigeria Police Force was changed to black | 1988 |
| 21 | Paper money (currency) became a legal tender in Nigeria | 1918 |
| 22 | First Hospital in Nigeria, Sacred Heart Hospital, was built at Abeokuta | 1895 |
| 23 | Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther ordained the first Bishop in Africa | 1861 |
| 24 | Grammar School Lagos, the first secondary school in Nigeria was established | 1859 |
| 25 | Fulani Jiha was launched by Usman Danfodio | 1802 |
| 26 | Aeroplane landed in Kano, Nigeria for the first time | 1925 |
| 27 | Nigeria became a Republic | 1961 |
| 28 | NYSC was established | 1973 |
| 29 | The name ”Nigeria” was given by Lady Lord Lugard | 1898 |
| 30 | Dimka led abortive coup which Gen. Murtala Mohammed was assassinated | Feb. 13th 1976 |
| 31 | Bellview plane crashed in Ogun state | 222nd Oct. 2005 |
| 32 | Gen. Philip Effiong announced Biafra’s surrender | Jan. 12th 1970 |
| 33 | New currency was introduced | Jan. 27th 1968 |
| 34 | Gen. Buhari overthrown Shagari’s government | 31st Dec. 1983 |
| 35 | Mrs. Stella Obasanjo, Former First lady died after surgery in Spain | Oct. 23rd 2005 |
| 36 | Afikpo was captured by Nigeria Soldiers | April 1968 |
| 37 | 1000 and above Ibos were massacred in Asaba by Nigerian troops | Oct. 13th 1967 |
| 38 | Nigerian Tribun newspaper was founded by Chief Awolowo | 1949 |
| 39 | Apapa wharf was officially opened | 1920 |
| 40 | Miss Agbani Darego became the first person to win Miss world in the whole Africa | 17th Nov. 2001 |
| 41 | Dele Giwa was killed by letter bomb | 19th Oct. 1986 |
| 42 | Nigeria won Africa cup of nation in Tunisia | 1994 |
| 43 | Society for the abolition of slave trade was established | 1777 |
| 44 | MKO Abiola died in detention | July 1998 |
| 45 | First television station in Nigeria, WMTV, which is now NTA, was launched in Ibadan, Oyo state | 1959 |
| 46 | The new N100 notes was introduced | Dec. 1999 |
| 47 | Nigeria won Africa cup of nation in Nigeria | 1980 |
| 48 | The new N200 notes was introduced | Dec. 2000 |
| 49 | Nigeria won u-17 junior world cup in China | 1985 |
| 50 | Presidential election between Abiola and Tofa | June 12th 1993 |
| 51 | Nigeria won u-17 junior world cup in Korea | 2007 |
| 52 | Northern and Southern pattern of Nigeria were amalgamated | 1914 |
| 53 | Nigeria won u-17 junior world cup in Japan | 1993 |
| 54 | Islamic religion started in northern Nigeria | 1777 |
| 55 | Arabic schools were established in northern Nigeria, Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna | 1450 |
| 56 | Benin Kingdom was established by Portuguese | 1472 |
| 57 | First Islamic school started in Borno state | 100AD |
| 58 | Methodist Church was established at Badagry, Lagos state | 1942 |
| 59 | Rev. Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther died | 1891 |
| 60 | First newspaper in Nigeria, Iwe Iloyin, was published | 1860 |
| 61 | Completion of first motor road in Nigeria, from Ibadan to Oyo | 1905 |
| 62 | The new N500 note was introduced | Dec. 2001 |
| 63 | MKO Abiola declared himself as President of Federal Republic of Nigeria | June 23rd 1994 |
| 64 | Biafran war captured ore | August 20th 1967 |
| 65 | Temitope Balogun Joshua (TB Joshua) died | 5th June 2021 |
| 67 | EndSARS protest event occurred | 8th October 2020. |
| 68 | Corona Virus started in Nigeria | 27th of February 2020 |
| 69 | Former governor, Prince Abubakar Audu died after Kogi state election | |
| 70 | President Muhammadu Buhari said ”I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” | 29th May 2015 |
Above table was purposely created to show you some notable and important dates in Nigeria which everybody should remember . I hope it is helpful? Please share it with your friends if yes.
In addition, please read the following as below are the notable and important dates of some holiday seasons or day of observances which are important to remember in Nigeria.
Notable public holidays and some observances in Nigeria 2021
Below are the dates of public holidays and observances in Nigeria 2021:
| S/N | HOLIDAY NAME | DATE | HOLIDAY DETAIL |
| 1 | New Year’s Day | Friday 1st Jan 2021 | New Year’s Day, also simply called New Year or New Year’s, is observed on 1 January, the first day of the year in the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar. |
| 2 | Mothering Sunday | Sunday 14th March 2021 | Mothering Sunday is a day honouring mothers and mother churches, celebrated in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and elsewhere in the English-speaking world on the fourth Sunday in Lent since the Middle Ages |
| 3 | Boxing Day | Sunday 26th Dec 2021 | Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide. Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. |
| 4 | International Albinism Awareness Day | Monday 13th June 2021 | International Albinism Awareness Day is celebrated annually on June 13 to celebrate the human rights of persons with albinism worldwide |
| 5 | Children’s Day | Thursday 27th May 2021 | Children’s Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children’s Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. |
| 6 | Good Friday | Friday 2 April 2021 | Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, and Black Friday. |
| 7 | Democracy Day | Saturday 12th June 2021 | June 12 is one of the notable days in Nigeria’s political history. |
| 8 | Id el Fitr holiday | Wednesday 12th May 2021 | Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for one to three days, depending on the country. It is forbidden to fast on the Day of Eid, and a specific prayer is nominated for this day. As an obligatory act of charity, money is paid to the poor and the needy (Zakat-ul-fitr) before performing the ‘Eid prayer. |
| 9 | Id el Fitr day | Thursday 13th May 2021 | Eid al-Fitr signified the end of fasting from dawn to dusk throughout Ramadan and the opening of the Shawwal month. It is also observed to pay tribute to Allah for bestowing strength and courage during the month-long fasting customs. |
| 10 | Women’s Day | Monday 8th March 2021 | International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. |
| 11 | Holy Saturday | Saturday 3rd April 2021 | Holy Saturday, also known as Great and Holy Saturday, the Great Sabbath, Hallelujah Saturday, Saturday of the Gloria and Black Saturday or Easter Eve, and called “Joyous Saturday”. |
| 12 | Ash Wednesday | Wednesday 17 Feb 2021 | Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer and fasting. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent [the six weeks of penitence before Easter]. It is traditionally observed by Western Christians. |
| 13 | Easter Sunday | Sunday 4th April 2021 | Easter, also called Pascha, Zatik or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. |
| 14 | Easter Monday | Monday 5th April 2021 | Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and a public holiday in some countries. It is the second day of Eastertide. In Western Christianity, it is also the second day of the Octave of Easter, and in Eastern Christianity, it is also the second day of Bright Week. |
| 15 | March Equinox | Saturday 20th March 2021 | The March equinox or northward equinox is the equinox on the Earth when the subsolar point appears to leave the Southern Hemisphere and cross the celestial equator, heading northward as seen from Earth. |
| 16 | Christmas Day | Saturday 25 Dec 2021 | Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration by billions of people around the world. |
| 17 | Christmas Eve | Friday 24 Dec 2021 | Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. It is observed around the world, and it is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. |
| 18 | New Year’s Eve | Friday 31 Dec 2021 | In the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Eve, the last day of the year, is on 31 December. In many countries, New Year’s Eve is celebrated at evening parties, where many people dance, eat, drink, and watch or light fireworks. Some Christians attend a watchnight service. |
| 19 | Nigeria Independence day | Friday 1st Oct 2021 | Independence Day is an official national holiday in Nigeria, celebrated on the first of October. It marks Nigeria’s proclamation of independence from British rule on 1st October 1960. |
| 20 | Valentine’s Day | Sunday 14th Feb 2021 | Valentine’s Day occurs every February 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world. It is a day (February 14) when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. |
| 21 | Day off for Workers’ Day | Monday 3rd May 2021 | International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day in most countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labour movement and occurs every year on May Day |
| 22 | Day off for Democracy Day | Monday 14th June 2021 | Democracy Day is a national public holiday in Nigeria. From 2019, it is celebrated on every June 12th each year. Hence the day off for 2021 democracy day is 14th June 2021 |
| 23 | June Solstice | Monday 21st June 2021 | The June solstice is the solstice on the Earth that occurs each year falling on 21st–22nd June every year according to the Gregorian calendar. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice is the summer solstice, whilst in the Southern Hemisphere it is the winter solstice. |
| 24 | Id el Kabir Public Holiday | Tuesday 20th July 2021 | The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 20, and Wednesday, July 21, 2021, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid–el–Kabir holiday |
| 25 | Id el Kabir additional holiday | Wednesday 21st Jul 202 | Id el Kabir is an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (AS). It is a festive day in Nigeria and the whole world at large where all adult Moslems are expected to kill ram |
| 26 | December Solstice | Tuesday 21st Dec 2021 | The December solstice, also known as the southern solstice, is the solstice that occurs each December – typically on 21 December, but may vary by one day in either direction according to the Gregorian calendar. |
| 27 | Sambisa Memorial Day | Wednesday 22nd Dec 2021 | Beginning from 2017, December 22nd each year is marked as Sambisa Memorial Day which is a public holiday in Borno State |
| 28 | Al-Hijra observed | Monday 9th August 2021 | Al–Hijra, the Islamic New Year, is the first day of the month of Muharram, hence Moslems may celebrate |
| 29 | Al-Hijra observed | Tuesday 10 August 2021 | Al–Hijra is a public holiday. It is a day off for the general public where many Islamic offices, schools and businesses are closed |
| 30 | Isese Day | Friday 20th August 2021 | Isese Day is a regional public holiday observed in the Nigerian state of Osun on every August 20th each year. |
| 31 | International Day of the Girl Child | Monday 11th October 2021 | International Day of the Girl Child is an international observance day declared by the United Nations; it is also called the Day of Girls and the International Day of the Girl |
| 32 | Id el Maulud | Tuesday 19th Oct 2021 | The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Tuesday October 19 2021, Public Holiday to mark the Islamic festival of Eid-il-Maulud, a “commemoration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)” |
| 33 | Father’s Day | Sunday 20th June 2021 | Father’s Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society |
| 34 | September Equinox | Wednesday 22nd Sep 2021 | The September equinox is the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward. Due to differences between the calendar year and the tropical year, the September equinox may occur anytime from September 21st to 24th |
| 35 | April Fools’ Day | Friday 1st April 2021 | April Fools’ Day or April Fool’s Day is an annual custom on 1 April consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting “April Fools!” at the recipient. Mass media can be involved in these pranks, which may be revealed as such the following day. |
| 36 | Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s birthday | Tuesday 16th November 2021 | November 16, the birthday of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, ought to be a national holiday in Nigeria. |
| 37 | World Orphans Day | Friday 9th April 2021 | World Orphans Day is declared by Worldwide Organization for Charity (WOC) Previously known as World Orphan Centre (WOC). The prime purpose of World Orphans Day is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for orphans and underprivileged children related activities all over the world. |
Conclusion
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