The West African territory now
known as Nigeria was first discovered in 1472 by researchers from Portugal who
were seeking a sea route to Asia. Their names were Joao de Santarem, Lopo
Goncalves , Pero Escobar, and Fernao de Po.
Nigeria was not given it name by
Nigerians themselves, but by the European colonizers.
According to historical sources,
the country received its present name in 1897 when the continent was actively
colonized. Most other modern African countries did not exist then.
The name of our country is
connected with the Niger River.
Interestingly, the country was
given its name by British journalist Flora Shaw in the 19th century.
Flora Shaw later married Baron Frederick Lugard, a British colonial
administrator (the Governor General of both Northern and Southern
Protectorates).
Flora Shaw combined the words
“Niger” known as the country’s longest river, and “Area” means its environs to
get the word “Nigeria” (referring to the area surrounding the river Niger).
The adjectival form being
“Nigerian” referring to people from the River Niger Area (Nigeria).
Niger, however in Latin mean black and surprisingly enough
for a lot of people, Nigeria actually means Black Area-which is ironic, since
it is the most populous black nation in the world.
In 1886, Lady Shaw was a journalist from Britain who
participated in the Brussels conference on the struggle against slavery. She
was the only female representative at the event.
She also served as the editor in Times. After marriage, she
changed her surname to Lugard. Her husband was the acting governor of Hong
Kong, and also Governor-General in Nigeria.
During the First World War, she participated in the works of
the Committee of War Refugees and founded her own Hospitality Committee.
In 1918, she was awarded the title of Dame Commander of the
British Empire Order.
Flora Shaw died on the 25th of January 1929 in
Surrey, United Kingdom.
Source: Ourpage9ja
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