Nigeria's Centenary Celebrations

Amalgamation Proclamation by Lord Lugard

Nigeria is planning an elaborate series of events to commemorate and celebrate the nation's 100 years of existence. According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,“The centenary celebration will provide all Nigerians the opportunity to share in Nigeria’s story of freedom, achievements and aspirations as well as showcase the country in proper perspective to the world.” The celebrations will be funded through a partnership of the organized Nigerian private sector and interested international investors with no financial support from the Federal Government. The celebration is scheduled to start on February 4, 2013 and will be ongoing for about 20 months providing the opportunity to put in place what is referred to as legacy projects intended to set Nigeria on a renewal path. The celebrations will highlight Nigeria’s history including the British amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates of Nigeria by Lord Lugard who was the British colonial representative at the time. The amalgamation formally gave birth what we know of today as the country of Nigeria.

Of particular significance as part of the legacy projects are plans to erect a new City Gate in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital; the development in Abuja of a Centenary City which is expected to attract private investments estimated at $15 billion and the creation of more than 15,000 jobs. Each of Nigeria’s state will benefit from the legacy projects through the building of a unity square in each state and in the establishment of medical diagnostic centers in each of the six geo-political zones of the country. Many other economic and infrastructural enhancing investments are planned as part of the centennial celebrations. These include the following:

• ICT centers in all universities that do not current have one; 
• a modern library in a university in each of the zones;
• police crime laboratories, one in each of the zones; 
• building and renovation of sports facilities in each of the federal universities as well as renovation, naming or renaming of colonial sites in the country. 

There are also plans to renovate and upgrade the National War Museum in Umuahia, Colonial History museums in Lokoja and Aba, the National Museum inside the Old Residency in Calabar and establishment of a dialysis center in each of the zones. The plans for the development of the Abuja Centenary City are quite ambitious. According to Senator Anyim, the new town, would be a replica of Dubai, Monaco, Shenzhen, Singapore and lately Songdo. The Centenary City would occupy virgin land space totaling over 1,000 hectares along Abuja Airport Road. The land for Centenary City will be acquired in accordance with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Land Swap Agreement. The Centenary City is designed to be “the second largest ‘private city’ development in history, after Songdo International Business District in South Korea.

The theme of the centenary celebrations as stated by Anyim is “One Nigeria: Great Promise and Mission To Re-inspire the Unity of Nigeria,” and is packaged to show case Nigeria to the world, depicting her past, present and future while highlighting the rich heritage in cultures, languages, ethnic diversity and yet, unity in diversity. Why celebrate? Anyim pointed out several reasons. Nigeria has the largest and most vibrant parliament in Africa, in tandem with other maturing political institutions with deep and rich traditions. Nigeria is also the largest black nation and the seventh most populous nation in the world. The celebration is needed among other reasons to promote the essence and advantages of our unity.

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All rights reserved by Inter-Continental Mgt. Systems, Inc (ICMS, Inc). The information included in this publication may not be used, reproduced, transmitted, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written permission of ICMS, Inc. The author Dr. Tom Okure is President of ICMS, Inc, a multifaceted business and management consulting firm with its head office in Albany, New York. Dr. Okure is a writer, author, business/management consultant, public policy commentator and change advocate.