Western Region of Nigeria
| Western Region of Nigeria Western Region of Nigeria | |
|---|---|
| Former subdivision of Nigeria | |
| 1954–1967 | |
| Capital | Ibadan |
| History | |
| Historical era | 1954–1967 |
• Created by Lyttleton constitution | 1954 |
• Divided into Western State and Lagos State | 1967 |
| Today part of | Lagos State, Ogun State, Oyo State, Ondo State, Ekiti State, Osun State, Edo State, Delta State |
The Western Region of Nigeria was one of three regions that made up Nigeria under the Lyttleton constitution of 1954.[1] Its capital city was Ibadan. Most people living in the region were Yoruba.
History
The Western Region was created in 1954. At that time, it had eight provinces. About 75 percent of its people were Yoruba.[2]In 1963, the parts of the region where ethnic minority groups lived were separated to form a new region called the Mid-Western Region. Its capital was Benin City. After this change, more than 95 percent of the people left in the Western Region were Yoruba. The 1963 national census recorded a population of 10,265,846 people in the Western Region and 2,535,839 people in the new Mid-Western Region.[3]On 27 May 1967, the Western Region was divided into two new states: Western State and Lagos State.[4]
Provinces
Before 1963, the Western Region had eight provinces:
- Abeokuta Province
- Benin Province
- Ibadan Province
- Ijebu Province
- Ikeja Province
- Ondo Province
- Oyo Province
- Warri Province
Among the provinces, Ibadan Province had the most people.[5]
Leaders
Chief Obafemi Awolowo led the Action Group party and served as Premier of the Western Region from 1954 to 1959.[6]
References
- ↑ "Western Region, Nigeria (1960–1967)". Flags of the World. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ↑ Coleman, James Smoot (1958). Nigeria: Background to Nationalism. University of California Press.
- ↑ Oderinde, Nathaniel O. "Public library development in Nigeria: past, present and future". Loughborough University of Technology. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ↑ "Lagos, Nigeria (1960–1970)". Flags of the World.
- ↑ Coleman, James Smoot (1958). Nigeria: Background to Nationalism. University of California Press.
- ↑ "Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Premier of the Western Region, Nigeria". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 15 August 2025.