YEAR 9 HISTORY SCHEME OF WORK
SECOND TERM
Week
Topic
British Colonization of
1
Nigerian Territories.
2
British Colonization of
Nigerian Territories.
3
British Colonization of
Nigerian Territories.
Content
a. Meaning of Colonization.
b. British contact with Nigeria:
i. British contact with Nigeria as
Explorers.
ii. British contact with Nigeria as
Traders.
iii. British contact with Nigeria as
Missionaries.
British Conquest of Nigeria (1851-1914)/ How
Nigerian territory was conquered:
i. British conquest through Treaties.
ii. British conquest through Wars.
iii. British conquest through Trade.
iv. British conquest through
Missionaries.
v. British conquest through
invitation by the chiefs.
British system of Colonialism:
a. Direct rule:
i. Meaning of direct rule.
ii. Features of direct rule.
b. Indirect rule:
i. Meaning of indirect rule.
ii. Features of indirect rule.
iii. Reasons for the adoption of
indirect rule.
iv. Why indirect rule succeeded in
the North.
v. Why indirect rule failed in the
South/East.
vi. Advantages of indirect rule in
Nigeria.
vii. Disadvantages of indirect rule in
Nigeria.
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5
6
7
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10
11
12
Continuous Assessment Test C.A.T 1
1
The Evolution of Nigeria State.
a. The Berlin Conference and Treaty:
i. The meaning of Berlin conference
and treaty.
ii. Reasons/Objectives of the Berlin
treaty.
iii. The decisions of the Berlin
conference.
iv. Major features of Berlin treaty.
Mid Term Break
MTB
The Evolution of Nigeria State.
b. Royal Niger Company (1879-1899):
The Evolution of Nigeria State.
c. Colonial Conquest and Administration
of Nigerian Territories.
The Amalgamation of the
i. Meaning of Amalgamation.
Nigeria.
ii. Reasons for the amalgamation of Nigerian
territories.
iii.Process of the amalgamation of Nigerian
territories.
iv. Key Personalities in the amalgamation of
Nigeria and their roles: Tubman Goldie,
Lord Lugard, traditional rulers, Christian
missionaries.
The independence movement: i. Meaning of nationalism.
Nationalism.
ii. Origin of nationalism.
iii. Types of nationalism.
iv. Factors that contributed to Nigerian
Nationalism.
v. Nature of Nigerian Nationalism.
vi. The independence movement /struggle.
Revision
Examination
Closing
WEEK 1
SUBJECT: HISTORY
TOPIC – BRITISH COLONISATION OF NIGERIAN TERRITORIES.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES – By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
 explain the meaning of colonization,
 identify how the British had contact with the Nigerian people,
 describe British contact with Nigerian people.
MEANING OF COLONIZATION
Colonization means when a powerful country takes control of another country or
other countries (weaker country), especially by using force, and then sends people
from their country to live in the country controlled. The purpose for such can be
for cultivation, trade, exploitation or settlement.
INTRODUCTION
The Europeans came into West Africa as explorers, trader/merchants or
missionaries. The missionaries and the traders often had misunderstanding with
Nigerians. To ensure the safety and protection of the British traders and
missionaries, the British government in 1849, appointed John Beecroft as the
Consul of West Africa to take charge of trade and protect British commercial
interest in West Africa. In the course of this, Nigeria gradually became British
colony.
British contact with Nigeria as Explorers
As explorers, the British proclaimed that they were wishing to understand the
environment, to have knowledge of the country’s rivers and hills and way of life.
After the first exploration trip of Mungo Park in Africa sponsored by the African
Association, the British government showed interest in West African exploration.
The second exploration of Africa by Mungo Park was sponsored by British
government. After the death of Mungo Park, the British devised another way of
exploring the Niger. They sent an exploration team in 1822 to explore from Tripoli
through the Sahara desert. In1860’s, the Royal Niger Company was used as the
most prominent British Commercial explore in Nigeria.
British contact with Nigeria as Traders and Merchants
As traders, the British presented themselves as friend who has only come to do
business with the people, who respected the ruler and the culture. But what played
out eventually were the Europeans eventually forcing trade treaties on Nigerian
communities and subjecting the people to the commands of the British Empire.
The British also played their role in trade by sending traders like Macgregor Laird,
John Holt, Sir George Dashwood Taubman Goldie, etc.
British contact with Nigeria as missionaries
Apart from the first attempt made by the Portuguese to Christianize Nigeria from
15th -16th century, the British also played their role in Christianizing Nigeria by
sending missionaries like Bishop Herbert Tugwell, Hope Waddell, Mary Slessor
etc. Within the 19th century, slaves captured were put in slave ships and were
taken to Sierra Leone which became the centre from which Christianity spread to
English-speaking West Africa.
Problems encountered by early missionaries in Nigeria:
1. Language difficulty.
2. Hostility of the natives
3. Health Issues
4. Lack of understanding of the people’s culture.
5. Tribal differences.
Effects of Christian missionary in Nigeria
 The missionaries introduced the Christian religion.
 The missionaries embarked on the introduction and improvement of modern
medical services (Hospitals, clinics and dispensaries).
 The missionaries introduced western education.
 The missionaries made meaningful impact in the social life of the Nigerians.
Example; they built modern houses, constructed roads, etc.
 The missionaries established Christian press.
 The missionaries introduced modern farming and commercial methods
(legitimate trade).
 The missionaries condemned and damaged Nigerian indigenous religion,
customs and ways of life.
CLASSWORK
1. When a powerful country takes control of weaker country or countries by using
force and then sends its personnel’s to live in the country controlled it is called
_________.
2. The Europeans came into West Africa as ________, ________ and ________.
3. To ensure the safety and protection of the British traders and missionaries, the
British government in_______ appointed John Beecroft as the Consul of West
Africa.
4. ________ was the Consul of West Africa to take charge of trade and protect
British commercial interest in West Africa.
5. The first attempt made by the Portuguese to Christianize Nigeria was from
_______ century.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Explain the meaning of colonization.
2. Why were the British attracted to Nigeria? Explain.
3. Identify two (2) British explorers, traders and missionaries that came to
Nigeria.
4. List five (5) problems encountered by early missionaries in Nigeria.
5. Mention five (5) effects of Christian missionary in Nigeria.
WEEK 2
SUBJECT: HISTORY
TOPIC – BRITISH COLONISATION OF NIGERIAN TERRITORIES.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES – By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
 identify how the British conquered Nigerian territories,
 explain the strategies used by the British to conquer Nigerian territories.
How the British conquered Nigeria Territories?
From 1885 when the British acquired Nigeria territories through the Berlin
Conference, Britain started to strategize on how to overpower the Nigerian people
and establish colonial government. They used the following strategies to conquer
Nigerian territories:
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
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Signing of treaties.
Waging of wars and expedition.
Trade.
British missionaries.
Invitation by the chiefs.
The major strategies used were signing of treaties and waging of wars.
Signing of Treaties:
A treaty is a signed agreement between nations to obey and comply with a
matter(s) mutually decided. It is a written agreement between two or more
countries or nations formally approved and signed by their leaders.
British merchants and representatives engaged in the signing of treaties with
African chiefs. Among such treaties signed by the British with Nigerian territories
were:
 Lagos treaty of cession of 1861: It was a treaty signed on August 6th, 1861
between Britain and Oba Dosunmu of Lagos. This treaty initiated the
annexation of Lagos and completely made Lagos a colony of Britain. In 1841,
Oba Oluwole died and the throne was vacant. There was struggle for the throne
between Akitoye and Kosoko. Akitoye won and became Oba but
Kosoko plotted and overthrew him as Oba of Lagos through the help of the
Portuguese slave dealers. Akitoye fled to Abeokuta and then Badagry.
Kosoko refused to sign the anti-slave trade treaty and John Beecroft gave
orders for the bombardment of Lagos by ships of the British West African
Squadron. Akitoye seek for help from the British to regain his throne and
promised to sign a treaty to abolish slave trade in Lagos. So Beecroft helped
him .Lagos fell on December 27, 1851. Kosoko and his supporters fled to
Epeon an exile. Akitoye was reinstated to the throne. He signed a treaty in
1852, to abolish slave trade, to allow free trade in his kingdom (to make
Lagos a crown colony), etc. In 1853, Akintoye died and was succeeded by
his son Dosunmu who was weak because he was used as a British puppet.
 Treaty of peace, friendship and commerce of 1886: It was the Ekitiparapo peace
treaty that was signed in 1886 between Britain and the warring factions
(Ibadan,Ilesha and Ekiti) to end the war and promote trade.
 British treaty with Itsekiri in 1884 and 1894: It wasthe treaty of protection
between the British and the Itsekiri that was signed on July16th, 1884 and
August 2nd 1894.
 British treaty with Bornu in 1894.
Waging of wars and expeditions:
The British government waged wars against communities that resisted their move
to occupy their territories. For example;
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Bombardment of Lagos by the British in 1851.
The 1982 war against the Ijebu Kingdom.
War against the Benin Empire of 1896-1897.
Anglo-Aro war of 1901-1902, etc.
Trade:
The British government used trade as a strategy to conquer Nigeria. They started
with Atlantic slave trade. They penetrated Nigeria land through trade.
British Missionaries:
The British used their religion (Christianity) to divide the people of Nigeria by
building places of worship (churches),schools, hospitals, etc.
Invitation by the chiefs:
Some prominent chiefs in the south voluntarily invited the British to their land and
kingdoms owing to what they considered as benefits of the British presence in the
area.
CLASSWORK
1. British acquired Nigeria territories through the Berlin Conference in the year
_______.
2. The major strategies used by the British to conquer Nigeria were _________
and_________.
3. A written agreement between two or more countries or nations formally
approved and signed by their leaders is called __________.
ASSIGNMENT
Describe how the British conquered Nigeria territories by listing the strategies
used.