THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR 1967-1970, ITS IMMEDIATE AND LONG TERM DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON EDUCATION

Abstract

Nigeria came into existence in 1914 when the two British Protectorates were amalgamated by Frederick Lugard. The country was under British colonial rule until October 1st, 1960, when it gained its independence. There was a political crisis in the country between 1964 and 1965, which led to the first military coup in Nigeria on January 15, 1966, in which politicians and senior military officers were killed. There was a counter coup on 29th May, 1966, to take revenge on the Easterners and to secede from the country. The Head of State was killed, and Lt. Col. Gowon became the Head of State; his leadership was rejected by Lt. Col. Ojukwu. On 30th May, 1967, Lt. Col. Ojukwu declared Eastern Nigeria as an independent sovereign state of Biafra, and the war started on 6th July, 1967. On 10th January, 1970, Lt. Col. Ojukwu handed over the administration of Biafra to Major Gen. Phillip Effiong and flew out of the country with members of his immediate family. The civil war came to an end on January 13th, 1970, and the surrender paper was signed on January 14th, 1970, in Lagos between Gowon and Major Gen. Effiong. Relevant literature was reviewed, and a historical research design was adopted for the study. Findings of the study showed that education in the region was negatively affected. This paper, therefore, examined the immediate and long-term effects of the devastating effects on Nigerian education.