October 1, 1960, marked the day the green-white-green flag was raised for the first time. That day, the Union Jack was lowered, and a new nation, born from centuries of kingdoms, empires, and colonial struggle, took its place on the world stage. Sixty-five years later, we stand to reflect: have we truly become the Nigeria of our dreams, or are we still in the waiting room of destiny?

PHOTOS: Nigeria's historic October 1, 1960 independence

The Journey Through Leadership

From independence to date, Nigeria has been led by men and women who, in one way or another, shaped the nation’s course. Some left legacies of vision, others of controversy, but all form part of our collective story.

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, our first Prime Minister, embodied diplomacy and moderation. His government sought unity in diversity but was tragically cut short in the 1966 coup. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first ceremonial President, symbolized the pride of independence, showing the world that Nigeria had intellectual and political leaders of its own.

The military years reshaped Nigeria with both ambition and authoritarianism. General Yakubu Gowon presided over the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) but also launched the post-war policy of “No Victor, No Vanquished” and established the NYSC to promote national unity. Murtala Muhammed, though in power for only six months before his assassination, inspired Nigerians with energy and anti-corruption zeal, remembered for his famous declaration, “This generation of Nigerians, and indeed future generations, have no other country than Nigeria. We must remain here to salvage it together.”

General Yakubu Gowon (Former Head of State - (1966-1975)

Olusegun Obasanjo, first as military ruler and later as civilian president, remains one of Nigeria’s most consequential leaders. He handed power to civilians in 1979, a rare act in Africa then, and decades later returned in 1999 to lead Nigeria back to democracy, launching reforms, debt relief negotiations, and telecommunications liberalization.

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The civilian Second Republic under Shehu Shagari brought democratic hopes but was soon overshadowed by economic mismanagement and corruption. The military struck again, and leaders like Muhammadu Buhari (1983–1985) ruled with strict discipline and a War Against Indiscipline campaign. His successor, Ibrahim Babangida, introduced structural adjustment programs that changed Nigeria’s economy forever, reducing state control but also entrenching hardship.

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The dark years of Sani Abacha remain etched in memory: repression, censorship, political assassinations, and international isolation, even as billions of oil dollars vanished. Yet, Abacha also stabilized the naira and launched infrastructure works, showing the contradictions of Nigerian leadership.

Historical - December 31, 1983: President Shehu Shagari's government was overthrown in a military coup, bringing an end to Nigeria's Second Republic. The Nigerian military coup of 1983 took place on 31

Democracy returned in 1999, and successive presidents; Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, each left their mark. Yar’Adua, though frail in health, is remembered for his humility and the Niger Delta amnesty program. Jonathan expanded education and infrastructure but battled corruption allegations. Buhari returned as a civilian leader in 2015, promising change, yet faced economic downturns, insecurity, and inflation. Today, under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the conversation has shifted to tough reforms, subsidy removal, and whether Nigerians can endure short-term pain for long-term gain.

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Each leader left us with lessons; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Together, they form a mosaic of Nigeria’s journey.

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Is This the Nigeria We Envisioned at 65?

At 65, Nigeria is both inspiring and troubling. We are Africa’s largest economy, the most populous Black nation on earth, blessed with oil, gas, fertile lands, and extraordinary human talent. Nigerian music, film, and literature dominate global culture, with Afrobeat stars filling arenas from Lagos to London. Our entrepreneurs are building fintechs and startups that compete globally. In sports, we remain giants, producing world-class athletes.

And yet, the questions remain:

Is this the development we dreamed of when we raised the green-white-green in 1960?

Is Okada smoke in our cities the “modernity” we prayed for?

Is survival packaging in sachets; water, milk, even cooking oil, the independence we fought for?

Is this freedom, when millions still live below the poverty line, without electricity, healthcare, or clean water?

Our independence was meant to be more than self-rule; it was meant to be self-reliance, dignity, and progress. But too often, we have stumbled. Our politics is still marred by ethnicity, corruption, and poor governance. Our youths are leaving in droves through the “japa” wave, searching for opportunities abroad.

And so we must ask again: are we truly independent, or are we still chained; by bad governance, foreign debt, imported goods, and a mindset that looks outward rather than inward?

The Before and After

Before, Nigeria was a country of hope, where our parents believed that a university graduate would automatically find a job, where agriculture was the pride of regions, where one pound was stronger than the dollar. After 65 years, the story is different. Education struggles, industries decline, and corruption eats away at our progress. But it is not all doom. Nigerians remain some of the most resilient people on earth. Our creativity, innovation, and energy prove that hope still lives.

The Way Forward

Nigeria at 65 must not just be a day of celebration but of sober reflection. Independence is not about flags and parades, it is about dignity and accountability. We must build an economy that feeds us, a health system that heals us, and a government that serves us.

If we must honour the sacrifices of Tafawa Balewa, Azikiwe, Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Murtala, and countless unnamed patriots, then we must pledge again to Nigeria, not only with words but with action.

Nigeria at 65 is a mirror. It reflects the good; the creativity, resilience, culture, and global pride we have achieved. It reflects the bad; corruption, insecurity, mismanagement. It reflects the ugly; the poverty, pollution, and struggles of daily survival. But mirrors are not only for looking back, they are also for correcting ourselves.

As we mark 65 years of independence, the question remains: can Nigeria rise to the height of her promise? The answer lies not only in our leaders, but in all of us who daily recite the pledge and call this land our own.

Nigeria at 65: Independence, Survival, and the Road Ahead : Fatima Adamu

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