Nigerian Peoples and Culture — 2025A Past Questions

University of Ilorin GST112: 102 questions.

Topics: Evolution of Nigeria as a political unit, Nigerian history, culture, and art up to 1800, Concept of trade and economics of self-reliance, Nigeria and challenges of nation building, Re-orientation, moral and national values, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Individual norms and values, Current socio-political and cultural developments in Nigeria

1. Who was the first minister appointed in the colonial administration?
   1. Tafawa Balewa
   2. Yakubu Gowon
   3. Murtala Mohammed
   4. Nnamdi Azikiwe
2. Who was the first Prime Minister of Nigeria?
   1. Tafawa Balewa
   2. Nnamdi Azikiwe
   3. Obafemi Awolowo
   4. Ahmadu Bello
3. Who founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)?
   1. Herbert Macaulay
   2. Nnamdi Azikiwe
   3. Ernest Ikoli
   4. Obafemi Awolowo
4. Which of the following nationalists contributed to the creation of the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM)?
   1. Herbert Macaulay
   2. Ernest Ikoli
   3. Nnamdi Azikiwe
   4. H.O. Davies
5. Jam’iyyar Mutanen Arewa was formed in which year?
   1. 1945
   2. 1940
   3. 1951
   4. 1949
6. Which culture is specifically famous for bronze and brass sculpture?
   1. Yoruba
   2. Benin
   3. Igbo
   4. Hausa
7. The first phase of the amalgamation of Nigeria took place in?
   1. 1700
   2. 1800
   3. 1900
   4. 1906
8. The first election in Nigeria under the elective principle was in what year?
   1. 1923
   2. 1950
   3. 1945
   4. 1933
9. Who was the legendary founder and first king of the Oyo Empire?
   1. Oduduwa
   2. Oranmiyan
   3. Alaafin
   4. Sango
10. Who is known as the 'Father of Nigerian Nationalism' and founder of the NCNC?
    1. Herbert Macaulay
    2. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    3. Obafemi Awolowo
    4. Ahmadu Bello
11. What is the famous horse-riding festival of the Hausa-Fulani people?
    1. Durbar
    2. Sallah
    3. Argungu
    4. Sharo
12. The term 'Durbar' refers to which of the following?
    1. A ceremonial crown
    2. A king's court
    3. A display of horsemanship and military prowess
    4. A traditional war dance
13. The old capital of the Oyo Empire was known as?
    1. Ile-Ife
    2. Ibadan
    3. Katunga
    4. Oyo-Ile
14. The Nok culture is internationally famous for its?
    1. Bead making
    2. Terracotta sculpture
    3. Weaving
    4. Metal works
15. The deity in Yoruba land associated with thunder and lightning is?
    1. Sango
    2. Oya
    3. Orunmila
    4. Ogun
16. Which Yoruba deity is associated with the river and fertility?
    1. Sango
    2. Osun
    3. Oya
    4. Yemoja
17. The Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM) was established in what year?
    1. 1933
    2. 1934
    3. 1938
    4. 1942
18. The Bata drum is primarily used for which purpose in Yoruba culture?
    1. Religious and ceremonial occasions
    2. Farming festivals
    3. Hunting rituals
    4. Market announcements
19. Who led the first military coup in Nigeria in January 1966?
    1. Herbert Macaulay
    2. Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu
    3. Buka Suka Dimka
    4. Yakubu Gowon
20. In what year was the National Orientation Agency (NOA) established?
    1. 1990
    2. 1993
    3. 2005
    4. 1987
21. What was the primary stated purpose of the 1914 amalgamation by the British?
    1. Administrative and economic convenience
    2. Religious unity
    3. Colonial punishment
    4. Education development
22. Who is the British journalist credited with naming Nigeria?
    1. Lord Lugard
    2. Flora Shaw
    3. Henry Morton Stanley
    4. George Taubman Goldie
23. Who was the first Premier of Western Nigeria?
    1. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. Obafemi Awolowo
    3. Herbert Macaulay
    4. S.L. Akintola
24. The Second World War ended in what year?
    1. 1939
    2. 1945
    3. 1946
    4. 1950
25. Who was the first civilian President of Nigeria (Head of State with executive powers)?
    1. Shehu Shagari
    2. Olusegun Obasanjo
    3. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    4. Goodluck Jonathan
26. Lagos became a 'Crown Colony' in what year?
    1. 1851
    2. 1861
    3. 1870
    4. 1885
27. In what year was Lagos merged with the Southern Nigeria Protectorate?
    1. 1900
    2. 1906
    3. 1914
    4. 1898
28. Which nationalist led the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) movement?
    1. Tafawa Balewa
    2. Aminu Kano
    3. Ahmadu Bello
    4. Nnamdi Azikiwe
29. Who led the British naval attack on Lagos in 1851?
    1. John Beecroft
    2. Lord Lugard
    3. Flora Shaw
    4. Governor Glover
30. Which proto-nationalist and merchant prince was exiled to the West Indies?
    1. Jaja of Opobo
    2. Nana of Itsekiri
    3. Herbert Macaulay
    4. Oba Ovonramwen
31. Which city served as the British headquarters/capital of the Niger Coast Protectorate before Lagos?
    1. Benin
    2. Cross River
    3. Calabar
    4. Warri
32. The 'Change begins with me' campaign was launched by which administration?
    1. Muhammadu Buhari
    2. Goodluck Jonathan
    3. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
    4. Olusegun Obasanjo
33. Which Nigerian nationalist was the first to be knighted by the British Crown?
    1. Sir Herbert Macaulay
    2. Sir Nnamdi Azikiwe
    3. Sir Ahmadu Bello
    4. Sir Obafemi Awolowo
34. The constitution that introduced the federation of three regions and unicameral legislation was?
    1. Clifford Constitution
    2. Richard Constitution
    3. Macpherson Constitution
    4. Lyttleton Constitution
35. The military operation that took place in 1897 against the Benin Kingdom is called the?
    1. Benin-British War
    2. Niger-Benin War
    3. Invasion of Benin
    4. Benin Punitive Expedition
36. The first Governor-General of a united Nigeria in 1914 was?
    1. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. Sir James Robertson
    3. Lord Lugard
    4. Obafemi Awolowo
37. Which ethnic group is noted for having decentralized 'stateless' societies that offered prolonged resistance to British rule?
    1. Hausa
    2. Tiv
    3. Igbo
    4. Ijaw
38. The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) was founded in what year and by whom?
    1. 1923, Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. 1923, Herbert Macaulay
    3. 1934, Tafawa Balewa
    4. 1945, Ahmadu Bello
39. In Yoruba mythology, who is the god of wisdom and divination?
    1. Osun
    2. Obatala
    3. Sango
    4. Orunmila
40. The Oyo Empire at its peak stretched into which present-day neighboring country?
    1. Chad
    2. Benin Republic
    3. Cameroon
    4. Togo
41. Nigeria became a Republic in which year?
    1. 1960
    2. 1963
    3. 1954
    4. 1970
42. The Second Republic in Nigeria lasted between what periods?
    1. 1960–1966
    2. 1979–1983
    3. 1985–1991
    4. 1999–2003
43. The Sarauta system of administration is associated with what ethnic group?
    1. Yoruba
    2. Hausa
    3. Igbo
    4. Tiv
44. Where is the Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage site, located?
    1. Ile Ife
    2. Osogbo
    3. Iwo
    4. Ogbomoso
45. Which administrative system did the British use to govern Nigeria through traditional rulers?
    1. Confederal rule
    2. Parliamentary rule
    3. Indirect rule
    4. Presidential rule
46. Who founded the Action Group (AG)?
    1. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. Obafemi Awolowo
    3. Herbert Macaulay
    4. Tafawa Balewa
47. What is the traditional judicial or representative assembly in Igbo culture?
    1. Ogboni
    2. Oha-na-eze
    3. Umuada
    4. Ndichie
48. According to Yoruba tradition, who was the first Ooni of Ile-Ife?
    1. Oduduwa
    2. Oranmiyan
    3. Obatala
    4. Ogun
49. The deity of creation and purity in Yoruba religion is known as?
    1. Sango
    2. Orunmila
    3. Obatala
    4. Osun
50. What is the name of the traditional patterned fabric shirt worn by men in Igbo land?
    1. Buba
    2. Agbada
    3. Isiagu
    4. Danshiki
51. The Clifford Constitution, which introduced the first elective principle, was enacted in?
    1. 1922
    2. 1946
    3. 1951
    4. 1954
52. What is the title given to a traditional ruler in many parts of Igbo land?
    1. Obi
    2. Emir
    3. Oba
    4. Olubadan
53. Zaria is located in which geographical zone of Nigeria?
    1. Northwestern Nigeria
    2. Northeastern Nigeria
    3. Southeastern Nigeria
    4. South-south Nigeria
54. The 1914 amalgamation led to the unified territory being officially called?
    1. The United Nations Nigeria
    2. The Nigeria Federation
    3. The Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
    4. The United Colony
55. What is the core belief of the traditional Igbo people regarding the afterlife?
    1. Ancestors can reincarnate into the family
    2. The dead becomes spirits that vanish
    3. Strictly Heaven or Hell
    4. No belief in life after death
56. The ancient city of Nri, famous for its priest-kings, is associated with which ethnic group?
    1. Igbo
    2. Kanuri
    3. Yoruba
    4. Nupe
57. In Yoruba cosmology, the spiritual force or 'power-to-make-things-happen' is called?
    1. Ashe
    2. Olodumare
    3. Orisha
    4. Ifa
58. A Chief Priest and diviner in the Yoruba Ifa tradition is referred to as?
    1. Babalawo
    2. Oloye
    3. Onifa
    4. Olodumare
59. The Eyo festival, featuring white-clad masquerades, is a major cultural event in which city?
    1. Osogbo
    2. Kano
    3. Lagos
    4. Enugu
60. At what time of the year is the New Yam Festival typically celebrated across Nigeria?
    1. August
    2. January
    3. April
    4. November
61. How did traditional Igbo societies primarily organize their political and social life?
    1. In villages governed by elders and titleholders
    2. Under a centralized king with absolute power
    3. In nomadic groups without fixed settlements
    4. Under a single military dictator
62. Who was the first British official to govern a unified Nigeria after 1914?
    1. Hugh Clifford
    2. George Goldie
    3. Lord Lugard
    4. Arthur Richards
63. The Lyttleton Constitution of 1954 is most significant for introducing?
    1. Independence for Nigeria
    2. A truly Federal system of government
    3. Centralization of all power in Lagos
    4. The first amalgamation
64. What was the primary reason the British colonial government introduced Western education in Nigeria?
    1. To eliminate local languages
    2. To spread Islam to the South
    3. To train low-level clerks and interpreters
    4. To develop Nigeria's industrial sector
65. How many regions did the British initially divide Nigeria into under the 1946 Richard Constitution?
    1. 2 regions
    2. 3 regions
    3. 4 regions
    4. 6 regions
66. In which year did Nigeria host the first All-Africa Games (now African Games)?
    1. 1963
    2. 1973
    3. 1987
    4. 1999
67. What was the ancient city of Kano most famous for during the pre-colonial and colonial trade periods?
    1. Gold mining
    2. Salt and leatherwork
    3. Pottery
    4. Ivory carving
68. Which Nigerian constitution was criticized for giving the Northern Region a larger political representation in the center?
    1. Clifford Constitution
    2. Richard Constitution
    3. Macpherson Constitution
    4. Lyttleton Constitution
69. What was the outcome of the 1959 federal elections held just before independence?
    1. The NPC won an absolute majority
    2. The NCNC won the most seats
    3. The AG won the most seats
    4. No single party won a clear majority
70. What historical event in 1960 officially marked the end of British colonial rule in Nigeria?
    1. The signing of the Lagos Treaty
    2. The Declaration of Independence
    3. The 1959 Election result
    4. The Amalgamation anniversary
71. What event effectively ended Portuguese influence and control over trade in the Nigerian coastal regions?
    1. The Abolition of the Slave Trade
    2. The rise of the British as the dominant naval power
    3. The discovery of oil in the Delta
    4. The Berlin Conference of 1884
72. The mask used by the Igbo in traditional ceremonies, often representing spirits of the dead, is called?
    1. Egungun
    2. Mmanwu
    3. Ekpe
    4. Gelede
73. Who was the last Oba of Benin to rule before the 1897 British annexation?
    1. Oba Eweka
    2. Oba Esigie
    3. Oba Ovonramwen
    4. Oba Akenzua
74. Which Nigerian nationalist was the most vocal advocate for a Federal system of government to accommodate Nigeria's diversity?
    1. Obafemi Awolowo
    2. Tafawa Balewa
    3. Ahmadu Bello
    4. Nnamdi Azikiwe
75. The constitution that allowed for the greatest number of Nigerians to participate in the legislative process during the colonial era was
    1. Clifford Constitution
    2. Richard Constitution
    3. Macpherson Constitution
    4. Lyttleton Constitution
76. In a political context, re-orientation refers to
    1. Having another election
    2. Shifting political goals and priorities
    3. Changing leaders
    4. Civil disobedience
77. Which global event significantly accelerated the Nigerian nationalist fight for independence?
    1. Great Depression
    2. World War I
    3. World War II
    4. Berlin Conference
78. In traditional Igbo belief, what is the name of the Supreme Creator?
    1. Chukwu
    2. Olodumare
    3. Ifa
    4. Amadioha
79. The concept of 'Chi' in Igbo traditional belief refers to
    1. A personal god or life force
    2. The physical body
    3. An evil spirit
    4. The community elders
80. The Yoruba non-material culture that emphasizes good character and ethical behavior is known as
    1. Omoluabi
    2. Eyo
    3. Aso-Ebi
    4. Ifa
81. During the colonial era, the extraction of raw resources and cash crop farming was primarily intended to
    1. Benefit the local farmers
    2. Develop Nigerian industries
    3. Support the British industrial economy
    4. Foster regional trade
82. The ancient city of Nri, known as the ancestral home of the Igbos, is located in which present-day state?
    1. Enugu
    2. Ebonyi
    3. Anambra
    4. Lagos
83. The Argungu international fishing festival is a major cultural event celebrated by the people of
    1. Yoruba
    2. Igbo
    3. Hausa/Fulani
    4. Nupe
84. Which constitution introduced a formal Legislative Council for the whole of Nigeria for the first time?
    1. Clifford Constitution
    2. Macpherson Constitution
    3. Lyttleton Constitution
    4. Richards Constitution
85. In the colonial era, the term 'elites' generally referred to
    1. Traditional rulers
    2. Western-educated Nigerians
    3. The British military
    4. Peasant farmers
86. Which region was most effectively managed through the system of 'Indirect Rule'?
    1. Northern Region
    2. Southern Region
    3. Eastern Region
    4. Western Region
87. What is the primary significance of the Durbar festival in Northern Nigeria?
    1. A celebration of yam harvest
    2. A display of horse-riding and military heritage
    3. A fishing competition
    4. A rain-making ritual
88. The Action Group (AG) party, led by Obafemi Awolowo, had its strongest political base in the
    1. Southeast
    2. Northeast
    3. Southwest
    4. Northwest
89. Where was the administrative capital of the British Northern Nigeria Protectorate before Lokoja and the eventual move to Lagos?
    1. Abuja
    2. Benin City
    3. Ogun
    4. Calabar
90. Which political party was primarily formed to represent and protect Yoruba interests in the Western Region?
    1. NCNC
    2. Action Group (AG)
    3. NPC
    4. NNDP
91. The Northern People's Congress (NPC) was led by which influential Northern leader?
    1. Sir Ahmadu Bello
    2. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
    3. Aminu Kano
    4. Shehu Shagari
92. The Igbo people are geographically and culturally dominant in which part of Nigeria?
    1. Southern
    2. Eastern/Southeastern
    3. Northern
    4. Western
93. The 1954 Lyttleton Constitution is historically significant because it introduced
    1. The elective principle
    2. Unicameralism
    3. Federalism
    4. The first republic
94. Which of these traditional festivals is strictly a harvest celebration?
    1. Egun festival
    2. New Yam festival
    3. Eyo festival
    4. Argungu festival
95. The Yoruba supreme deity, often referred to as the creator of the universe, is
    1. Orisha
    2. Aku
    3. Esu
    4. Olodumare
96. Which specific trade commodity yielded the highest profit for the British and local merchants during the early colonial era?
    1. Textile trade
    2. Palm oil trade
    3. Cotton trade
    4. Gold trade
97. The Yoruba belief in reincarnation is often reflected in the concept of ancestors returning to the family, known as
    1. A soul's journey
    2. The continuous cycle of life
    3. Atunwa
    4. Nirvana
98. The traditional Hausa state of Zaria (Zazzau) was historically prominent for its
    1. Naval power
    2. Military strength and slave raiding
    3. Agricultural products
    4. Bead making
99. In the context of Nigerian value systems, re-orientation in education and business aims at
    1. Cultural preservation
    2. Moral revival and entrepreneurship
    3. Political awareness
    4. Agricultural development
100. Which legal instrument formally unified the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914?
     1. The Richards Constitution
     2. The Clifford Constitution
     3. The Amalgamation Act/Order-in-Council
     4. The Berlin Treaty

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