Table of Contents

️ HISTORY LESSON NOTE – PRIMARY 4 (WEEK 2–3)

TOPIC: Colonial Administration in Nigeria

Subject: History
Class: Primary 4
Term: First Term
Week: 2 & 3
Age: 8–9 years
Duration: 80 minutes (40 minutes per week session)

Behavioural Objectives

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

Explain the meaning of colony, colonizer, colonized, and colonial administration.
Describe the structure of colonial administration in Nigeria.
Discuss how Nigeria was colonized by Britain.
Identify and explain the impacts of colonial rule in Nigeria.

Keywords & Meanings

Keyword	Meaning
Colony	A country or area under the control of another country.
Colonizer	A powerful country that takes control of another country.
Colonized	The country that is taken over or ruled by another.
Colonialism	The system where one country rules and exploits another.
Administration	The way a government is organized and managed.
British Empire	The group of countries once controlled by Britain.
Indirect Rule	A system of ruling through local traditional leaders.
Governor	The British official who led the colonial government.
Missionaries	People who came from Europe to spread Christianity.
Independence	Freedom from the control of another country.

Set Induction (Attention-Grabbing Introduction)

The teacher begins with a storytelling moment:

“Children, imagine one morning someone walks into your house, moves your chair, eats your food, and begins to tell your parents what to do — without even asking! How would you feel?”

Allow pupils to respond — they’ll likely say angry, sad, or surprised.

Then say:

“That’s exactly what happened many years ago when the British came to Nigeria. They ruled our people and made laws for us. This period was called Colonial Administration. Let’s find out how it all happened.”

Entry Behaviour

Pupils already know from Week 1 that History is the story of past events and people.
They can recall Nigeria’s past heroes and events like Independence Day (1960).

Learning Resources & Materials

Map of Africa showing colonial territories.
Chart showing the structure of British colonial administration in Nigeria.
Pictures of Lord Lugard and traditional rulers.
Old British flag and Nigerian flag (for comparison).
Story cards and timelines.

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher connects the lesson to the previous topic, “Meaning and Importance of History,” by saying:

“We learned that History helps us understand how our past shaped our present. Today, we’ll see how the coming of Britain changed Nigeria’s story.”

Embedded Core Skills

Critical Thinking: Understanding causes and effects of colonization.
Communication: Oral discussion, storytelling, and explanation.
Citizenship: Building awareness of Nigeria’s struggle for freedom.
Digital Literacy: Using visual aids or digital maps if available.
Cultural Awareness: Respecting local heritage and historical identity.

Reference Materials

Lagos State Unified Scheme of Work for History, Primary 4
Nigeria Primary History Textbook (NERDC Edition)
Lessonshabitat.com – History Lesson Plans for Primary Classes
Teacher’s own classroom experience

Instructional Materials

Map of Nigeria (before and after 1914)
Pictures of British officials and Nigerian chiefs
Flashcards for key terms
Chalkboard, chart paper, and marker

CONTENT PRESENTATION

A. Meaning of Colonial Administration

Colonial Administration means the system of government set up by a foreign country to control another land or people.
In Nigeria, this system was introduced by Britain after they took over the land.
The British made laws, collected taxes, and controlled trade and education.

B. Meaning of Colony, Colonizer, and Colonized

Colony: A country ruled by another (e.g., Nigeria before 1960).
Colonizer: The ruling power (e.g., Britain).
Colonized: The people being ruled (e.g., Nigerians).

C. How Nigeria Was Colonized by Britain

Britain came first through traders (for palm oil, ivory, etc.).
Then came missionaries who preached Christianity and built schools.
Later, Britain began to control territories in the South and North.
In 1900, Britain officially took over both regions.
In 1914, Lord Frederick Lugard joined the North and South together — known as the Amalgamation of Nigeria.

D. Structure of Colonial Administration

British Government (in London) – made main decisions.
Governor (in Nigeria) – represented the British Crown.
Resident Commissioners – helped the governor in provinces.
District Officers – worked in local areas.
Traditional Rulers/Chiefs – helped rule the people under Indirect Rule.

E. Impacts of Colonial Rule in Nigeria

Positive Impacts:

Building of roads, railways, and bridges.
Introduction of Western education.
New hospitals and health centers.
Introduction of English language.
New system of government.

Negative Impacts:

Loss of Nigerian freedom and culture.
Exploitation of Nigeria’s natural resources.
Division of tribes and ethnic groups.
Introduction of heavy taxes.
Disrespect for traditional rulers.

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs with Answers)

Question	Answer
1. What is colonial administration?	The system of government set up by a foreign country to rule another.
2. Who colonized Nigeria?	Britain.
3. What year did Nigeria become one country?	1914.
4. Who joined the North and South together?	Lord Frederick Lugard.
5. What system did the British use to rule Nigeria?	Indirect Rule.
6. Mention one good thing Britain did in Nigeria.	They built roads and schools.
7. Mention one bad thing about colonial rule.	Nigerians lost their freedom.
8. What is the name of the British flag?	The Union Jack.
9. What year did Nigeria gain independence?	1960.
10. What can we learn from this history?	To protect our freedom and value our nation.

Teacher’s Activities

Revise the previous topic.
Display charts and maps of colonial Nigeria.
Explain meanings of colony, colonizer, and colonized.
Narrate the story of British arrival and the 1914 Amalgamation.
Ask pupils questions to check understanding.
Guide pupils to discuss good and bad effects of colonial rule.
Summarize and write notes on the board.

Learners’ Activities

Listen to the teacher’s story.
Study the map and identify Nigeria’s regions.
Repeat key terms aloud.
Participate in question-and-answer discussion.
Write definitions and examples in their notebooks.
Share what they have learned about colonial rule.

1. Understanding the Core Idea

To understand colonial administration, let’s begin with the key words.

Definition of Key Terms

Colony:
A country or land that is controlled and ruled by another stronger country.
Example: Nigeria became a British colony in 1914.
Colonizer:
The powerful country that takes over and rules another country.
Example: Britain was the colonizer of Nigeria.
Colonized:
The people or nation that is taken over by another country.
Example: Nigerians were the colonized people.
Colonial Administration:
The system of government or rule set up by the colonizers to control the people and manage their affairs.
Example: Britain introduced indirect rule through local chiefs in Nigeria.

⚖️ 2. Meaning of Colonial Administration

Colonial administration means the way the British government ruled Nigeria after taking control.
They brought their own system of laws, officers, taxes, and schools to manage the country and its people.

It was called “colonial rule”, and it lasted in Nigeria from around 1861 to 1960, when Nigeria finally gained independence.

3. How Nigeria Was Colonized by Britain

Trade and Influence:
At first, British traders came to buy palm oil, cotton, and other goods from Nigeria.
Treaties and Agreements:
The British signed agreements with local kings and chiefs, promising protection in exchange for control.
Use of Force:
When some rulers resisted, the British used their strong army to defeat them (like the Benin Kingdom in 1897).
Amalgamation of 1914:
The British joined the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria together under one government.
Establishment of Colonial Government:
They set up offices, appointed governors, and introduced the indirect rule system — ruling through traditional leaders.

️ 4. Structure of Colonial Administration in Nigeria

The British colonial government was organized like this:

LEVEL	TITLE	ROLE
1	British Crown (London)	Gave orders and policies.
2	Governor-General (in Nigeria)	Represented the British King or Queen in Nigeria.
3	Resident Commissioners	Supervised each region or province.
4	District Officers	Controlled local districts and chiefs.
5	Local Chiefs / Traditional Rulers	Helped the British rule the people directly under indirect rule.

️ 5. Impact of Colonial Rule on Nigeria

Here are 5 positive and 5 negative examples to help pupils see both sides:

✅ Positive Impacts

Introduction of Western education.
Construction of roads, railways, and bridges.
Introduction of modern medicine and hospitals.
Formation of civil service and modern governance.
Spread of Christianity and new ideas.

❌ Negative Impacts

Loss of freedom and control — Nigerians were not allowed to govern themselves.
Exploitation of natural resources for Britain’s gain.
Cultural erosion — some Nigerian traditions were discouraged.
Unequal development between regions.
Racism and discrimination against Nigerians in their own land.

6. Why It’s Important to Learn About Colonial Administration

It helps pupils understand how Nigeria became one country.
It teaches the importance of self-rule and freedom.
It helps us value our culture and independence.
It shows how foreign influence can change a nation.
It builds awareness about justice, equality, and respect for others.

7. Internal Links (

You can interlink these when publishing on your site for SEO + user engagement:

Sources of History – Oral, Written, and Material Evidence
→ Explains how historians discovered facts about colonial times.
Heroes of Nigerian Independence
→ Leads to later topics about nationalist leaders and freedom.

8. External Links (authoritative EEAT sources)

These help you back your article with trustworthy references (EEAT compliance):

National Archives UK – Colonial Nigeria Collection
→ Original documents from British colonial rule in Nigeria.
Britannica – Colonial Nigeria Overview
→ Detailed explanation of British rule and its impact on Nigerian society.

9. Simplified Summary for Pupils

WHAT TO REMEMBER	SHORT EXPLANATION
Colony	A land ruled by another country.
Colonizer	The country that rules another.
Colonized	The people being ruled.
Colonial Administration	How the colonizers ruled the land.
Indirect Rule	When the British ruled through local chiefs.
Amalgamation	Joining Northern and Southern Nigeria in 1914.
Governor-General	The British leader in Nigeria.
Impact	The changes (good or bad) caused by colonial rule.
Independence	When Nigeria became free in 1960.
Lesson	Freedom and unity are better than foreign control.

Evaluation Questions

A. Objective (Multiple Choice)

Nigeria was colonized by __________.
a) France b) Britain c) Germany d) America
A colony is a country that is __________.
a) independent b) rich c) ruled by another d) very small
The person who ruled Nigeria on behalf of Britain was called __________.
a) President b) Governor c) Teacher d) Chief
The system Britain used to rule Nigeria was called __________.
a) Direct rule b) Indirect rule c) Traditional rule d) Local rule
The man who joined North and South Nigeria together was __________.
a) Obafemi Awolowo b) Lord Lugard c) Tafawa Balewa d) Herbert Macaulay
Nigeria became one country in __________.
a) 1914 b) 1960 c) 1900 d) 1999
One positive effect of colonial rule was __________.
a) slavery b) new roads c) war d) famine
One negative effect of colonial rule was __________.
a) freedom b) education c) loss of culture d) good government
The British flag was called __________.
a) Eagle flag b) Union Jack c) Rising Sun d) Red Cross
Nigeria gained independence in __________.
a) 1914 b) 1960 c) 1950 d) 2000

B. Short-Answer Questions

Define colonial administration.
Who colonized Nigeria?
Who was the first British governor of Nigeria?
What does the word “colony” mean?
Mention one positive effect of colonial rule.
Mention one negative effect of colonial rule.
What year did the amalgamation of Nigeria take place?
What system of rule did Britain use in Nigeria?
Define the term “colonizer.”
Why is it important to study Nigeria’s colonial history?

Conclusion

The teacher summarizes key points.
Pupils repeat definitions and examples.
The teacher marks classwork and gives feedback.
Pupils are encouraged to research local stories of British rule in their towns.

History Worksheet – Primary 4 (First Term, Weeks 2–3)

Topic: Colonial Administration in Nigeria

A. Objective Questions (Choose the correct answer from a, b, c, or d)

A country that controls and rules another country is called a ________.
a) Colonized b) Colony c) Colonizer d) Citizen
Nigeria was colonized by ________.
a) France b) Portugal c) Britain d) America
A colony is a place that is ________.
a) Independent b) Controlled by another country c) Full of soldiers d) Empty of people
The system used by Britain to rule Nigeria through local chiefs was called ________.
a) Direct rule b) Indirect rule c) Home rule d) Shared rule
The person who represented the British Crown in Nigeria was the ________.
a) King b) Governor-General c) Chief d) Missionary
The amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria took place in ________.
a) 1940 b) 1914 c) 1900 d) 1960
The colonial government introduced ________ to help with reading and writing.
a) Traditional schools b) Western education c) Village meetings d) Oral stories
One of the effects of colonial rule was that Nigeria lost her ________.
a) Freedom b) Land c) Roads d) Schools
The people who were ruled by another country were called the ________.
a) Colonized b) Colonizers c) Chiefs d) Traders
The British came to Nigeria first because of ________.
a) Gold b) Trade c) Religion d) Politics

B. Theory Section (Short-Answer Questions)

Define colony.
Who was a colonizer?
Explain what colonial administration means.
Mention two methods the British used to colonize Nigeria.
List any three positions in the colonial administrative structure.
What does indirect rule mean?
Who was the Governor-General during the 1914 Amalgamation?
State two positive impacts of colonial rule in Nigeria.
Mention two negative impacts of colonial rule.
In what year did Nigeria gain independence?

C. Fill-in-the-Blank Questions

The British used the system called ________ rule to govern through local chiefs.
Nigeria was joined together as one country in the year ________.
The ________ represented the British Crown in Nigeria.
The powerful country that rules another country is called the ________.
The people being ruled are known as the ________.
The colonial masters introduced ________ education to Nigeria.
Nigeria was ruled by ________ from Europe.
The process of controlling another land is called ________.
One good effect of colonial rule is the building of ________ and bridges.
Nigeria became independent in the year ________.

D. Bonus Revision Section (10 Quick-Think Questions)

Use these as oral review or group activity:

What is the meaning of “amalgamation”?
Mention one way Nigeria changed under colonial rule.
Name one traditional ruler who resisted British control.
Why did Britain come to Nigeria?
What is one thing you like about pre-colonial Nigeria?
How did the British communicate with local rulers?
Mention one positive thing brought by colonial rule.
Mention one negative thing caused by colonial rule.
Why is it important to study history?
Who fought for Nigeria’s freedom later on?