Class: Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3 / JS3)
Term: Third Term
Week: 1
Age: 14 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: History
Curriculum Theme: History
Previous Lesson: The Role of the Royal Niger: Company in the Evolution of the Nigerian State.
Topic: THE AMALGAMATION OF NIGERIA
Subject Matter: What is Amalgamation: What happens when an amalgamation takes place among people/nations / tribes?, Reasons for the Amalgamation of Nigerian Territories by the colonial masters

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define amalgamation.
State what happens when an amalgamation takes place among people or nations.
List at least three reasons for the amalgamation of Nigerian territories.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the historical significance of the amalgamation of Nigeria.
Recognize the various factors that led to the amalgamation.

Psychomotor Domain:

Discuss the concept of amalgamation.
Explain the reasons behind the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates.

Share ideas with peers on the impact of amalgamation.
Engage in discussions about the historical events leading to Nigeria’s formation.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Comprehensive History for Junior Secondary Schools 3

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Whiteboard and markers
Charts showing maps of pre-amalgamation protectorates and the amalgamated Nigeria
Pictures of Lord Lugard

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how Nigeria was formed as a single entity from different protectorates. It enables them to grasp the historical processes and reasons behind the country’s creation, which is important for understanding Nigeria’s present structure and challenges.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have prior knowledge of pre-colonial Nigerian societies and the early British presence and influence in various parts of what became Nigeria.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

The Amalgamation of Nigeria

What is Amalgamation?

Amalgamation refers to the process of combining or uniting two or more separate entities into one single, larger entity. In the context of Nigeria, it was the administrative unification of the Northern Protectorate, the Southern Protectorate, and the Colony of Lagos into a single colony named Nigeria.

When an amalgamation takes place among people, nations, or tribes, the following generally happen:

Separate administrative structures are merged into a single system.
Different laws and policies may be harmonized or a new unified legal framework is introduced.
People from previously distinct territories come under a common government and shared identity, even if their cultures remain distinct.
Resources and revenues are pooled and managed centrally.

Reasons for the Amalgamation of Nigerian Territories by the Colonial Masters

The British colonial masters amalgamated the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914 primarily for their own administrative and economic benefits. The main reasons include:

Administrative Convenience: It was easier and more efficient to administer one large territory rather than several smaller, separate ones, reducing the number of administrative staff and offices required.
Economic Reasons: The Southern Protectorate was economically richer due to its coastal trade and access to the sea, generating more revenue. The Northern Protectorate was financially dependent on grants from the British treasury. Amalgamation allowed the surplus revenue from the South to be used to subsidize the deficit in the North, making the entire colony self-sufficient.
Political Control: A unified administration provided stronger political control over the vast territories and diverse ethnic groups, making governance simpler for the British.
Security: A united command facilitated better security management and control over the entire region, especially against internal resistance or external threats.
Development of Infrastructure: A single administration could plan and execute large-scale infrastructural projects like railways and communication networks more effectively across the entire territory.
Strategic Importance: Unifying the territories strengthened Britain’s position in West Africa and its imperial ambitions.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them if they know how Nigeria became one country. The teacher reviews the previous lesson briefly to connect it to the current topic.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greetings and questions, offering their ideas on how Nigeria was formed.
Learning Point: Pupils are engaged and their prior knowledge is activated.

Step 2: Explanation of Amalgamation

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines “amalgamation” as the process of uniting two or more things into one. The teacher explains that it was the unification of the Northern and Southern Protectorates and the Colony of Lagos in 1914.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen attentively, take notes, and ask questions for clarification.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definition of amalgamation in a historical context.

Step 3: What Happens During Amalgamation

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what generally happens when an amalgamation takes place among people, nations, or tribes, highlighting the merger of administrations, laws, and the emergence of a common identity under a single government.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe maps or charts if provided, and contribute examples if they know any.
Learning Point: Pupils grasp the practical implications and consequences of amalgamation.

Step 4: Introduction to Reasons for Amalgamation

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Transition/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the next sub-topic by asking pupils why they think the British colonial masters decided to unite these distinct territories.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils brainstorm and offer possible reasons based on their general knowledge of colonial history.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared to learn about the specific reasons for amalgamation.

Step 5: Discussion of Administrative and Political Reasons

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains administrative convenience and political control as key reasons for the amalgamation, detailing how it made governance easier for the British.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions to understand these reasons better.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the administrative and political motivations behind the amalgamation.

Step 6: Discussion of Economic and Other Reasons

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the economic reasons (Southern Protectorate subsidizing the North) and other factors like security, infrastructure development, and strategic importance.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils engage in a brief discussion, clarifying their understanding of the various reasons.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the economic and other strategic reasons for the amalgamation.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is amalgamation?
Mention two things that happen when an amalgamation takes place.
List three reasons for the amalgamation of Nigeria by the colonial masters.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the definition of amalgamation and the key reasons for it. The teacher assigns homework: “Find out more about Lord Lugard’s role in the amalgamation.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework.
Learning Point: The lesson is reinforced and pupils are given further research to do.

Lesson Keywords

Amalgamation – The process of uniting or merging two or more entities into one.
Protectorate – A state that is controlled and protected by another.
Colony of Lagos – A British colonial possession around Lagos Island.
Lord Lugard – The British Governor-General responsible for the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914.
Colonialism – The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

Differentiation

The teacher will provide visual aids like maps for visual learners. For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher will encourage them to research the immediate consequences of the amalgamation. For those needing more support, the teacher will provide simplified explanations and one-on-one guidance.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure pupils understand that amalgamation was an administrative act by the British, not a voluntary union by the Nigerian people. Emphasize the long-term impact of this event on Nigeria’s political and economic landscape. Encourage critical thinking about the pros and cons from both the colonial and Nigerian perspectives.