When Nigeria achieved independence in 1960, the head of state was the _____

1. Analyze the question The question asks who held the position of head of state when Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960. Be careful: the head of state is not the same as the head of government.

2. Explain the concept

• Head of state: the ceremonial or symbolic representative of the country.
• Head of government: the person who runs the day-to-day affairs of government.

At independence in 1960, Nigeria adopted a parliamentary system and remained a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth. This meant the British monarch was still the formal head of state, represented locally by a Governor-General.

3. Step-by-step solution

• Prime Minister: Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the head of government. This rules out option C.
• Governor-General: Sir James Robertson was the Governor-General at independence. He was succeeded by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in November 1960. The Governor-General was the Queen's representative in Nigeria, not the head of state himself.
• President: Nigeria did not have a President until it became a Republic on 1 October 1963. Azikiwe then became the first President. This rules out option B.
• Queen of England: Queen Elizabeth II was the head of state in 1960, and the Governor-General acted on her behalf.

4. Identify the answer The head of state in 1960 was the Queen of England (Elizabeth II), which is option A.

Option D is a common trap. The Governor-General was the Queen's representative and performed the head of state's duties locally, but the actual head of state was the Queen.

5. Exam tip Remember the sequence:

• 1960 to 1963: Independence, with the Queen as head of state, the Governor-General as her representative, and the Prime Minister as head of government.
• 1963: Republic, with the President as head of state.

If a question asks for the head of state in 1960, think "Queen". If it asks who represented her in Nigeria, think "Governor-General".