Nigerian Peoples and Culture — 2025C Past Questions

University of Ilorin GST112: 204 questions.

Topics: Nigerian history, culture, and art up to 1800, Evolution of Nigeria as a political unit, Nigeria under colonial rule, Current socio-political and cultural developments in Nigeria, Nigeria and challenges of nation-building, Social justice and national development, Re-orientation, moral, and national values, Concepts of trade and economics of self-reliance

1. Which constitution introduced federalism in Nigeria?
   1. MacPherson Constitution
   2. Lyttelton Constitution
   3. Richard Constitution
   4. Arthur Constitution
2. What constitution is the first to include Nigeria in its name (The Constitution of Nigeria)?
   1. MacPherson Constitution
   2. Lyttelton Constitution
   3. Richards Constitution
   4. Clifford Constitution
3. The New Year festival (marking the lunar calendar) is common among which ethnic group?
   1. Hausa
   2. Yoruba
   3. Igbo
   4. Efik
4. Which festival is common among the Yoruba?
   1. Osun-Osogbo
   2. Argungu
   3. Ofala
   4. Ekpe
5. Why did Britain introduce Western education during colonialism?
   1. To prepare Nigerians for independence
   2. To promote Nigerian culture
   3. To train clerks and interpreters for the administration
   4. To build world-class universities
6. Which constitution introduced a unicameral legislature for the whole country?
   1. 1922 Clifford Constitution
   2. 1946 Richards Constitution
   3. 1951 Macpherson Constitution
   4. 1960 Independence Constitution
7. What year did Nigeria gain independence?
   1. 1963
   2. 1954
   3. 1960
   4. 1947
8. What year did Nigeria become a republic?
   1. 1963
   2. 1960
   3. 1951
   4. 1979
9. Which was the first political party in Nigeria?
   1. NCNC
   2. Action Group (AG)
   3. NPC
   4. NNDP
10. Which political party first proposed and fought for independence via the 1953 motion?
    1. NPC
    2. Action Group (AG)
    3. NCNC
    4. NNDP
11. The language spoken by the Igbo people is?
    1. Yoruba
    2. Hausa
    3. Asusu-Igbo
    4. Efik
12. In what way did the British primarily rule Nigeria?
    1. Absolute Rule
    2. Monarchical Rule
    3. Indirect Rule
    4. Parliamentary Rule
13. What is the meaning of the acronym NOA?
    1. National Organization of Agriculture
    2. National Orientation Agency
    3. Nigerian Official Authority
    4. National Order Association
14. Who was the first Prime Minister of Nigeria?
    1. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
    3. Obafemi Awolowo
    4. Ahmadu Bello
15. Which of these groups were key individuals involved in the nationalist movement in Nigeria?
    1. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Herbert Macaulay
    2. Lord Lugard, Flora Shaw, Sardauna
    3. Tafawa Balewa, Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed
    4. Olusegun Obasanjo, Abacha, Buhari
16. What system of government did the Igbo practice traditionally?
    1. Monarchy
    2. Theocracy
    3. Gerontocracy
    4. Acephalous system
17. When did Nigeria gain independence and later become a republic?
    1. 1963 and 1979
    2. 1960 and 1963
    3. 1960 and 1966
    4. 1954 and 1960
18. Who founded the NCNC and NPC political parties respectively?
    1. Herbert Macaulay & Ahmadu Bello
    2. Nnamdi Azikiwe & Tafawa Balewa
    3. Obafemi Awolowo & Yakubu Gowon
    4. Tafawa Balewa & Olusegun Obasanjo
19. Which political figure was granted knighthood (Sir) by the British?
    1. Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
    3. Obafemi Awolowo
    4. Herbert Macaulay
20. What was a major source of revenue for the British colonial administration in Nigeria?
    1. Cocoa farming
    2. Slave trade
    3. Taxation
    4. Palm oil
21. Why didn't indirect rule work effectively in Eastern Nigeria?
    1. Language barrier
    2. Igbo society was decentralized
    3. British refused to appoint leaders
    4. There were too many chiefs
22. What was the date/year of the Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria?
    1. 1910
    2. 1914
    3. 1906
    4. 1923
23. One of the key administrative effects of the 1914 Amalgamation was?
    1. Creation of more kingdoms
    2. End of colonialism
    3. Unification of North and South
    4. Establishment of slavery
24. What do the Benin bronze statues primarily represent?
    1. The gods of the sea
    2. The history and royalty of the kingdom
    3. Fertility and farming
    4. Power of European rulers
25. What do the Igbo people traditionally call their king/traditional head?
    1. Oba
    2. Igwe
    3. Emir
    4. Ooni
26. Who is the Yoruba deity associated with creation and morality?
    1. Sango
    2. Ogun
    3. Obatala
    4. Eshu
27. Who founded the Action Group (AG) and in what year?
    1. Obafemi Awolowo, 1951
    2. Tafawa Balewa, 1960
    3. Nnamdi Azikiwe, 1948
    4. Herbert Macaulay, 1923
28. The New Yam Festival is most commonly associated with which ethnic group?
    1. Yoruba
    2. Igbo
    3. Hausa
    4. Fulani
29. What are the key features of social justice?
    1. Religious laws
    2. Traditional customs
    3. Fairness, equality, and access to rights
    4. Dictatorship
30. Which of these is a valid classification of law?
    1. Public & Private
    2. Civil & Criminal
    3. International & Local
    4. All of the above
31. Fundamental Human Rights typically include?
    1. Freedom to rule
    2. Freedom to disobey
    3. Freedom of speech and right to life
    4. Right to punish others
32. Which Nigerian leader created the first 12 states in May 1967?
    1. General Yakubu Gowon
    2. Olusegun Obasanjo
    3. Muhammadu Buhari
    4. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
33. In Yoruba tradition, who is the deity associated with the river (fertility and healing)?
    1. Ogun
    2. Obatala
    3. Osun
    4. Eshu
34. The New Yam festival marks the beginning of the?
    1. School calendar
    2. War season
    3. Harvest season
    4. Rainy season
35. What is a central belief system in traditional Yoruba religion regarding deities?
    1. One God only with no intermediaries
    2. Belief in Orishas (deities)
    3. Nature worship only
    4. No belief in gods
36. When did the Nigerian Civil War start?
    1. 1965
    2. 1970
    3. 1967
    4. 1963
37. When was the first general election held in Nigeria under the Clifford Constitution?
    1. 1923
    2. 1951
    3. 1960
    4. 1979
38. What is a primary objective of the compulsory NYSC program?
    1. For punishment
    2. To join the military
    3. To promote unity and national development
    4. To provide cheap labor
39. Who were the first and last Governors-General of colonial Nigeria respectively?
    1. Lord Lugard / Nnamdi Azikiwe
    2. Olusegun Obasanjo / Nnamdi Azikiwe
    3. Herbert Macaulay / Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
    4. Aguiyi Ironsi / Yakubu Gowon
40. What was the main reason for the 1914 Amalgamation?
    1. Military advantage
    2. Religious spread
    3. Economic convenience and administrative ease
    4. National unity
41. In the context of Nigerian nationalism, who were the 'educated elite'?
    1. Colonial masters
    2. Western-educated Africans
    3. Traditional rulers
    4. Soldiers
42. What is the primary function of the Judiciary in Nigeria?
    1. Interprets the law
    2. Makes laws
    3. Sells land
    4. Controls the army
43. Which court is typically the highest in Nigeria for settling major disputes?
    1. Customary court
    2. Court of Appeal
    3. Sharia court
    4. Supreme Court
44. Who was the first British Consul sent to the Bights of Benin and Biafra in 1849?
    1. John Beecroft
    2. Lord Lugard
    3. Richard Lander
    4. George Goldie
45. The Action Group (AG) was initially formed from which cultural organization?
    1. Nigerian People's Congress
    2. Egbe Omo Oduduwa
    3. NCNC
    4. Jam'iyyar Mutanen Arewa
46. Who moved the famous 'Self-Government in 1956' motion in 1953?
    1. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
    2. Anthony Enahoro
    3. Ahmadu Bello
    4. Nnamdi Azikiwe
47. Who was the British official/representative who formally announced/handed over independence in 1960?
    1. Queen Elizabeth II
    2. Lord Lugard
    3. Sir James Robertson
    4. Princess Alexandra
48. In pre-colonial systems, which type of education was typically undergone through apprenticeship?
    1. University education
    2. Primary education
    3. Vocational/Informal education
    4. Theological education
49. Judicial manipulation and corruption primarily undermine...?
    1. Corruption
    2. The Rule of Law
    3. Education
    4. The Presidency
50. Which Benin king (Oba) was exiled to Calabar (often confused with West Indies in local lore) following the 1897 British expedition?
    1. Oba Eweka
    2. Oba Ovonramwen
    3. Oba Sango
    4. Oba Adeyemi
51. In what year was Lagos formally annexed as a British Colony?
    1. 1853
    2. 1861
    3. 1900
    4. 1860
52. According to legend, who was the first ruler/Alaafin of the Oyo Empire?
    1. Oduduwa
    2. Oranmiyan
    3. Lamurudu
    4. Sango
53. Which deity in Yoruba land is known to resolve issues and maintain justice through cosmic order?
    1. Sango
    2. Oya
    3. Orunmila
    4. Ogun
54. Which Yoruba deity is primarily associated with the river and fertility?
    1. Sango
    2. Osun
    3. Oya
    4. Yemoja
55. The Bata drum is primarily used for which of the following?
    1. Religious and ceremonial occasions
    2. Hunting rituals
    3. Farming festivals
    4. Modern pop music only
56. A major city and the administrative heart of the Old Oyo Empire was?
    1. Oyo-Ile
    2. Ibadan
    3. Osogbo
    4. Ife
57. Who is traditionally credited with the creation and founding of the Oyo Empire?
    1. Oranmiyan
    2. Oduduwa
    3. Sango
    4. Obatala
58. Which Nigerian culture is most famous for its intricate bronze and brass sculptures used in royal courts?
    1. Yoruba
    2. Benin
    3. Igbo
    4. Hausa
59. The ancient Nok culture is best known for what type of art?
    1. Bead making
    2. Terracotta sculpture
    3. Weaving
    4. Metal works
60. Which festival is a major cultural event of the Hausa-Fulani people involving a grand horse parade?
    1. Durbar
    2. Sallah
    3. Argungu
    4. Sharo
61. The historical term 'Durbar' refers to?
    1. A ceremonial crown
    2. A king's court
    3. A display of horsemanship and military prowess
    4. A traditional marriage rite
62. What was the capital of the Old Oyo Empire, often referred to in historical texts as Katunga?
    1. Ile-Ife
    2. Ibadan
    3. Katunga (Oyo-Ile)
    4. Abeokuta
63. In Yoruba mythology, Sango is the god of?
    1. Iron and War
    2. Water and Fertility
    3. Thunder and Lightning
    4. Wisdom and Ethics
64. Which Orisha is regarded as the god of wisdom and the master of the Ifa oracle?
    1. Osun
    2. Obatala
    3. Sango
    4. Orunmila
65. At its peak, the Oyo Empire's influence stretched into which present-day country?
    1. Chad
    2. Benin Republic
    3. Cameroon
    4. Togo
66. What is the name of the god of creation and purity (the sculptor of mankind) in Yoruba land?
    1. Sango
    2. Orunmila
    3. Obatala
    4. Osun
67. What is the name of the deity of creativity and divine knowledge in the Ifa system?
    1. Ogun
    2. Sango
    3. Orunmila
    4. Esu
68. What is the name of the traditional attire worn by men in Igbo land, often featuring lion head patterns?
    1. Buba
    2. Agbada
    3. Isiagu
    4. Danshiki
69. What title is commonly given to the traditional ruler in many parts of Igbo land?
    1. Obi
    2. Emir
    3. Oba
    4. Olubadan
70. The ancient and spiritually significant city-state of Nri belongs to which ethnic group?
    1. Igbo
    2. Kanuri
    3. Yoruba
    4. Nupe
71. What is the concept of divine energy or 'spiritual force' in Yoruba philosophy?
    1. Ashe
    2. Olodumare
    3. Orisha
    4. Ifa
72. The term for a Chief Priest and master diviner in Yoruba culture is?
    1. Babalawo
    2. Oloye
    3. Onifa
    4. Olodumare
73. Who was the legendary first king (Ooni) and progenitor of the Yoruba people at Ile-Ife?
    1. Oduduwa
    2. Orunmila
    3. Ooni Adeyemi
    4. Obalufon
74. In which present-day Nigerian state is the ancient Nri kingdom located?
    1. Enugu
    2. Ebonyi
    3. Anambra
    4. Lagos
75. The New Yam Festival (Iri Ji) celebrated by the Igbo takes place during which season?
    1. Planting
    2. Harvesting
    3. Rainy
    4. Dry
76. The Yoruba maintain a connection between the past, present, and future primarily through?
    1. Fortune telling
    2. Ceremonial dancing
    3. Ancestor worship and veneration
    4. Physical sacrifice
77. The Eyo Festival (Adamun Orisha Play) is a major cultural event celebrated in which state?
    1. Ogun
    2. Ondo
    3. Lagos
    4. Oyo
78. The Argungu Fishing Festival is a world-famous event celebrated by which people in Northern Nigeria?
    1. Yoruba
    2. Igbo
    3. Hausa/Kebbi people
    4. Fulani
79. A predominant form of traditional art for which the Yoruba are historically celebrated is?
    1. Bead making
    2. Sculpture (Wood and Metal)
    3. Dancing
    4. Music
80. The Hausa people, being predominantly Muslim, believe in which Supreme God?
    1. Allah
    2. Sango
    3. Chukwu
    4. Ogun
81. Which festival marks the beginning of the planting season or harvest cycle in various Igbo communities?
    1. Iri ji
    2. Osun
    3. Ofala
    4. New Yam
82. The Yoruba believe in an individual's personal destiny or 'inner head' called?
    1. Ori
    2. Ashe
    3. Ifa
    4. Sango
83. Traditional Igbo marriage ceremonies involve the payment of?
    1. Bride price
    2. Dowry
    3. Tax
    4. Fine
84. The Fulani festival that involves public flogging to demonstrate bravery and coming of age is?
    1. Sharo
    2. Durbar
    3. Argungu
    4. Osun
85. The major annual festival held in Osogbo to honor the river goddess is?
    1. Eyo
    2. Osun-Osogbo
    3. Sango
    4. Ibeji
86. The traditional Igbo council of elders or title holders is often referred to as?
    1. Ozo
    2. Nze na Ozo
    3. Obi
    4. Emir
87. The historic Benin Kingdom is located in which modern Nigerian state?
    1. Edo State
    2. Delta State
    3. Anambra State
    4. Ogun State
88. A popular traditional talking drum used in Northern Nigeria is the?
    1. Bata
    2. Kalangu
    3. Ekwe
    4. Goje
89. According to Yoruba belief, which deity controls thunder and lightning?
    1. Rain
    2. Fire
    3. Thunder
    4. Water
90. In Igbo traditional belief, Amadioha is the god of?
    1. Thunder
    2. Rain
    3. Fire
    4. Water
91. The traditional staple food of the Hausa people is?
    1. Yam
    2. Rice
    3. Millet
    4. Cassava
92. Which oracle do the Yoruba consult for wisdom, guidance, and divination?
    1. Ifa
    2. Sango
    3. Ogun
    4. Obatala
93. The Igbo deity representing the earth and morality is?
    1. Ala
    2. Amadioha
    3. Olodumare
    4. Sango
94. What is the name of the traditional Hausa/Fulani wrestling or brave-man festival?
    1. Sharo
    2. Durbar
    3. Argungu
    4. Iri ji
95. The paramount ruler of Ile-Ife holds which title?
    1. Ooni
    2. Emir
    3. Obi
    4. Sarki
96. In Igbo traditional religion, the Supreme Creator God is known as?
    1. Chukwu
    2. Olodumare
    3. Ifa
    4. Amadioha
97. The Yoruba people are predominantly found in which geographical part of Nigeria?
    1. Southeastern
    2. Northern
    3. Southwestern
    4. North-central
98. Which of these is a significant traditional craft of the Igbo people, particularly the Akwete and Nsukka regions?
    1. Weaving
    2. Carving
    3. Pottery
    4. Fishing
99. In Yoruba philosophy, what does the concept of 'Aṣe' signify?
    1. Peace and Harmony
    2. Wealth and Influence
    3. Authority, Command, and Life Force
    4. Beauty and Fertility
100. Who was the first Nigerian to be appointed as a federal minister (Minister of Works) during the colonial transition?
     1. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
     2. Yakubu Gowon
     3. Murtala Mohammed
     4. Nnamdi Azikiwe

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