● Official Diamond Jubilee • nigeriaat60.gov.ng

NIGERIA AT 60
TOGETHER WE RISE

Sixty years of independence. One nation, over 200 million dreams. From 1st October 1960 to 2020 — celebrating unity, resilience, culture and the promise of the next 60 years. Explore history, 36 states + FCT, festivals, achievements and national vision.

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60 Years1960 → 2020 Independence

200M+People, One Family

36 + FCTStates United

500+Languages & Cultures

Nigeria at 60 Diamond Jubilee — green white green celebration 1960-2020

1st October • Independence Day
Diamond Jubilee Theme: Together

Events

01 — About the Jubilee

Sixty years of freedom, forged in unity

On 1 October 1960, Nigeria raised its green-white-green flag as an independent nation. Nigeria at 60 — the Diamond Jubilee — honours that journey: the struggles, triumphs, creativity and unbreakable spirit of Nigerians at home and in diaspora.

This national platform documents six decades of nation-building — from the First Republic to democracy, from oil discovery to Nollywood, Afrobeats, tech startups and global sports glory. It is both an archive and a call to action: to reflect, reconcile and recommit to Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.

Unity

One Nigeria

250+ ethnic groups, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and hundreds more — bound by one flag, one anthem, one destiny.

Progress

Resilience

Civil war to democracy, economic reforms to youth innovation — Nigeria always rises stronger.

Explore Timeline See Gallery

National Symbols

Green • White • Green

Green for agriculture and natural wealth, white for peace and unity. Coat of arms, anthem “Arise, O Compatriots”, and the eagle, horses and Niger-Congo rivers.

Nigerian coat of arms — Unity and Faith Peace and Progress

Map of Nigeria — 36 states and FCT Abuja

02 — 1960 → 2020 Timeline

Six decades that shaped a giant

1960 — Independence

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa leads independent Nigeria. Nnamdi Azikiwe becomes Governor-General. New flag, new anthem, new hope.

1963 — Republic

Nigeria becomes a Federal Republic. First President Azikiwe. Regional growth, universities, railways and groundnut pyramids.

1967-1970 — Civil War & Reconciliation

Trial by fire. “No victor, no vanquished” — rebuilding unity through NYSC, new states and reconstruction.

1970s — Oil Boom & Culture

Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt expand. FESTAC ’77 showcases Black and African culture to the world.

1999 — Return to Democracy

Fourth Republic begins. Freedom of press, Nollywood explosion, telecoms revolution connects 200M Nigerians.

2020 — Diamond Jubilee

At 60: Africa’s largest economy, Afrobeats global, fintech unicorns, Super Eagles pride. Theme: Together — past, present, future.

Nigerian culture — unity in diversity festival

Heritage

Festivals, Faiths, Flavours

Durbar in Kano, Eyo in Lagos, Calabar Carnival, Osun-Osogbo, New Yam festivals. Jollof, suya, amala — a living mosaic.

Nigeria Vision 2050 — youth, cities, innovation

Future

Next 60: Youth Rising

Median age 18. Tech in Yaba, films in Asaba, farms in Benue. Vision: inclusive growth, education, green energy, digital Nigeria.

03 — Jubilee Events

How Nigeria celebrated at 60

Oct 1 • Abuja

🇳🇬 Independence Parade

Eagle Square military parade, presidential address, 60-gun salute and aerial display in national colours.

Exhibition

60 Icons & Innovators

From Wole Soyinka to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Burna Boy to Tobi Amusan — stories of excellence across generations.

Youth

Diamond Essay & Tech Challenge

60 schools, 60 startups: national essay, hackathon and creative contest — “My Nigeria in 2080”.

Culture

Festival of Unity

36 states pavilions, cuisine street, fashion runway with aso-ebi, adire, ankara and northern embroidery.

Diaspora

Global Naija Day

London, New York, Johannesburg, Dubai — Nigerians abroad light up landmarks in green-white-green.

Legacy

60 for 60 Projects

60 community projects: classrooms, boreholes, clinics and tree planting in all 774 LGAs.

Together — write the next chapter

Pledge service, share your #NigeriaAt60 story, volunteer in your LGA.

Read Stories Contact Secretariat

05 — Newsroom • Diamond Jubilee Updates

Latest news & stories

Official announcements, features on history, culture, economy and youth — from the Nigeria at 60 Secretariat. Click any story to read full article.

No news yet

Stories from the Diamond Jubilee will appear here soon.

Did you know?

Quick facts about Nigeria

★ Capital: Abuja • Largest city: Lagos
★ Independence: 1 October 1960 from the UK
★ Motto: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress
★ Anthem: “Arise, O Compatriots”
★ Rivers Niger & Benue meet at Lokoja
★ Nollywood: world’s 2nd largest film industry by volume

States spotlight

From Sokoto to Bayelsa

Each of the 36 states + FCT contributed a Jubilee pavilion: Kano durbar horses, Enugu coal heritage, Ogun adire, Rivers masquerades, Plateau tin mines, Borno Kanem history.

Explore full features in our newsroom — education, health, infrastructure, sports and entertainment milestones 1960-2020.

Why 60 Matters

06 — Contact Secretariat

Get involved

Federal Secretariat — Abuja

Diamond Jubilee Planning Committee
Phase II, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja-FCT, Nigeria
Open Mon–Fri, 8am–4pm WAT

For partnerships, press, school programmes and volunteer: visit our newsroom or send a delegation request via the Secretariat desk.

Our Pledge

“We pledge to Nigeria our country, to be faithful, loyal and honest, to serve Nigeria with all our strength, to defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory, so help us God.”

— National Pledge

NIGERIA AT 60TOGETHER WE RISE