The process of decolonization in Nigeria was hugely impacted by

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which global event had the biggest influence on Nigeria's decolonization, meaning the movement toward self-rule and independence (achieved in 1960).

Step 2: Explain the concept Decolonization in Africa gained real momentum after 1945. The key reasons are:

• Weakened colonial powers: Britain and France were economically and militarily drained by World War II and could no longer afford to control large empires.
• Nigerian ex-servicemen: Thousands of Nigerian soldiers fought in Burma and other theatres for Britain. They returned with new ideas, exposure to the wider world, and the awareness that Europeans were not invincible. Many became dissatisfied with colonial rule.
• The Atlantic Charter (1941): It promised the right of all peoples to choose their own government, which nationalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe and Herbert Macaulay used to demand self-rule.
• Rise of the USA and USSR: Both superpowers opposed old-style European colonialism.
• Nationalist growth: The NCNC (1944), the Action Group, and the Northern People's Congress grew in strength after the war. The Richards (1946), Macpherson (1951), and Lyttleton (1954) constitutions followed in quick succession.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. The Renaissance: This was a 14th-17th century European cultural movement and has no direct link to Nigerian decolonization.
• B. World War I: It had some effect, but nationalism was still weak and decolonization was not yet a serious prospect. Nigeria was amalgamated in 1914, and colonial control stayed firm.
• C. The Cold War: It influenced the later stage of decolonization, but it was itself a product of the post-WWII order. It is a secondary factor, not the main one.
• D. World War II: It directly weakened Britain, exposed Nigerian soldiers to new ideas, and inspired the nationalist push that led to independence. This is the most significant factor.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. World War II.

Exam tip: For "decolonization" questions in Government or History, remember "WWII = turning point." Think: weakened Britain + returning soldiers + Atlantic Charter + rise of nationalist parties. WWI is usually linked to the amalgamation and colonial consolidation period, not independence.