Class: Senior Secondary School 2 (SS2 / SSS2)
Term: Second Term
Week: 8
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: History
Curriculum Theme: Nigerian History and Government
Previous Lesson: Decolonization: Meaning, Process and Nigerian Nationalists in Administration.
Topic: THE FIRST REPUBLIC 1960-1966
Subject Matter: Meaning of the First Republic (Nigeria’s first civilian government after independence), political development, handing over to a Nigerian, seat of government, challenges of democracy

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define the First Republic of Nigeria.
Describe the political developments during the First Republic.
Identify the seat of government during the First Republic.
List and explain the major challenges faced by democracy in the First Republic.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the complexities involved in establishing a new democratic government.
Recognize the importance of stable democratic institutions for national development.

Psychomotor Domain:

Trace a simple timeline of key events from 1960 to 1966.
Locate the seat of government of the First Republic on a map of Nigeria.

Discuss the impact of the challenges on national unity during that period.
Promote dialogue on the lessons learned from the First Republic for contemporary democracy.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

Senior Secondary Schools Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
Adamu, I. (2018). Comprehensive History for Senior Secondary Schools. Abuja: Excellent Publishers.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Maps of Nigeria (pre- and post-independence)
Pictures of key political figures of the First Republic
Charts illustrating the structure of government

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand the foundational period of Nigeria’s post-independence governance. It enables them to learn about the country’s first attempt at democratic rule, its successes, and the difficulties it faced, which is important for understanding Nigeria’s political history.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils have prior knowledge of Nigeria’s journey to independence and the concept of civilian rule.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

THE FIRST REPUBLIC 1960-1966

Meaning of the First Republic

The First Republic refers to Nigeria’s first period of civilian parliamentary rule after gaining independence from British colonial rule. It lasted from October 1, 1960, until January 15, 1966, when it was overthrown by a military coup.

Political Development During the First Republic

Nigeria gained independence on October 1, 1960, as a parliamentary democracy with a federal structure. The country was divided into three regions: Northern, Western, and Eastern Regions, with a fourth, the Mid-Western Region, created in 1963.

Handing Over to Nigerians: The British colonial government formally handed over power to Nigerian political leaders. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the Prime Minister, and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became the Governor-General (later President when Nigeria became a Republic in 1963).
Seat of Government: The federal capital and seat of government during the First Republic was Lagos.
Major Political Parties: Key parties included the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), and Action Group (AG).
Key Figures: Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Prime Minister), Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (President), Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Samuel Akintola.

Challenges of Democracy During the First Republic

The First Republic faced several challenges that ultimately led to its collapse:

Regionalism and Ethnic Rivalry: Strong loyalty to ethnic groups and regions over national interest led to intense competition and conflict.
Census Controversies (1962/1963): Disputes over population figures, which determined political representation and resource allocation, fueled distrust among regions.
Political Crises:
- Western Region Crisis (1962): Internal conflicts within the Action Group party led to a state of emergency in the Western Region, resulting in the imprisonment of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
- Federal Elections Crisis (1964): Widespread allegations of rigging and irregularities led to a boycott by some parties and a legitimacy crisis.
Corruption: High levels of corruption among politicians undermined public trust and diverted resources meant for development.
Military Intervention: The culmination of these crises led to the first military coup on January 15, 1966, which ended the First Republic and ushered in military rule.

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 reminds them about Nigeria’s independence, asking them to recall the date and key figures involved. The teacher then introduces the topic: “The First Republic 1960-1966.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions about independence and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils connect the lesson to previous knowledge about Nigeria’s independence.

Step 2: Meaning of the First Republic

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the meaning of the First Republic as Nigeria’s first civilian government after independence, lasting from 1960 to 1966.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and copy the definition into their notes.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what the First Republic represents in Nigeria’s history.

Step 3: Handing Over to Nigerians and Seat of Government

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Illustration/Narration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher describes the process of the British handing over power to Nigerian leaders like Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. The teacher also states that Lagos was the federal capital.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and identify the key leaders and the capital city.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the transition of power and the initial seat of government.

Step 4: Political Development during the First Republic

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the federal structure, the three (later four) regions, and mentions the major political parties and their leaders. The teacher may use a chart to illustrate the regional setup.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils discuss the structure of government and identify the main political parties and figures.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the political landscape and key players of the First Republic.

Step 5: Challenges of Democracy during the First Republic

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Listing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the major challenges faced by the First Republic, such as regionalism, census controversies, political crises (e.g., Western Region crisis, 1964 election crisis), corruption, and the eventual military intervention.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, ask questions for clarification, and outline these challenges in their notes.
Learning Point: Pupils learn about the factors that led to the collapse of the First Republic.

Step 6: Discussion and Clarification

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Feedback
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher encourages pupils to ask questions about any part of the lesson for further clarification.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils ask questions and contribute to the discussion.
Learning Point: Pupils clarify any misunderstandings and deepen their comprehension.

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 meant by the First Republic of Nigeria?
Who was Nigeria’s first Prime Minister during the First Republic?
Name two major political parties that existed during the First Republic.
List any three challenges faced by democracy during Nigeria’s First Republic.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.
Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of learning from past political events. The teacher assigns homework: “Research and write a short paragraph on the impact of the 1966 military coup on Nigeria.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further study.

Lesson Keywords

First Republic – Nigeria’s first period of civilian parliamentary rule after independence (1960-1966).
Independence – The state of being free from colonial rule, achieved by Nigeria on October 1, 1960.
Civilian Government – A government run by elected non-military officials.
Regionalism – Strong loyalty to one’s region or ethnic group rather than the entire nation.
Military Coup – The sudden overthrow of a government by the military.

Differentiation

The teacher will provide additional visual aids and simplified explanations for pupils who may struggle with understanding complex political concepts. More advanced pupils will be encouraged to research and present on specific events or figures of the First Republic.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Teachers should ensure they have current maps of Nigeria and pictures of key political figures to enhance understanding. Encourage pupils to draw connections between the challenges of the First Republic and contemporary issues in Nigerian politics to make the lesson relevant.