🇫🇬 Federal Republic of Nigeria
National Symbols
of Nigeria
The flag, national anthem, coat of arms, pledge, motto and all official symbols of Nigeria — with full meanings and history.
Ratio 1:2 (width:length)
Design & Colours
The Nigerian flag consists of three vertical stripes — green on the left, white in the centre, and green on the right. It was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a student who submitted it as an entry in a national design competition in 1959. His original design included a red sun in the centre, which was removed by the committee before adoption.
The flag was first hoisted on 1 October 1960, the day Nigeria gained independence from Britain. It measures 1:2 (width to length ratio).
Green represents Nigeria's forests, farmland and natural resources — agriculture has been the backbone of the Nigerian economy since before independence. White represents peace and unity among Nigeria's diverse ethnic groups and regions.
Nigeria's current national anthem is "Nigeria Arise" (also known as "Nigeria, We Hail Thee"), the original anthem used from independence in 1960. It was restored in May 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, replacing "Arise O Compatriots" which had been in use since 1978. The original lyrics were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate, and the music was composed by Frances Berda.
The first stanza acknowledges Nigeria's diversity (“tribe and tongue may differ”) while calling for brotherhood and unity. The second stanza uses the flag as a symbol of truth and justice, emphasising the legacy Nigerians owe to future generations. The third stanza is a prayer to God for a nation free from oppression, blessed with peace and plenty.
The Nigerian Coat of Arms is the official heraldic symbol of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It features a black shield, two horses, an eagle, green and white bands, yellow flowers and the national motto. Each element carries specific meaning.
⬛ Black Shield
The black shield represents Nigeria's fertile soil and the strength of the Nigerian people. Black also represents the rich agricultural land of Nigeria.
〰️ Wavy Bands (Y-shape)
The white Y-shaped wavy bands on the shield represent the two great rivers — the River Niger and the River Benue — which meet in Kogi State at their confluence.
🦅 Eagle
The eagle at the top of the coat of arms represents the strength of Nigeria. It symbolises power, authority and the aspirations of the Nigerian nation.
🐎 Two Horses (Supporters)
The two horses on either side of the shield are supporters in heraldic terms. They represent dignity, pride and the strength of the Nigerian people.
🌼 Coctus Spectabilis Flowers
The green and white bands at the base feature yellow Coctus spectabilis flowers, the national flower of Nigeria. Green and white are the national colours.
📜 The Motto Banner
At the base of the coat of arms is a banner bearing Nigeria's national motto: "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress".
The Nigerian National Pledge is recited by schoolchildren across the country every morning and at official functions. It was written by Felicia Adeyoyin and adopted in 1976.
- "Faithful, loyal and honest" — commitment to integrity in service to the nation
- "Serve Nigeria with all my strength" — dedication of personal effort to national development
- "Defend her unity" — commitment to keeping Nigeria as one indivisible nation
- "Uphold her honour and glory" — protecting Nigeria's reputation locally and globally
- "So help me God" — invoking divine assistance, reflecting Nigeria's spiritual heritage
| Symbol | Description & Meaning |
|---|---|
| 🌟 National Motto |
"Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress" Adopted at independence in 1960. The four words represent the core values Nigeria aspires to — unity among its 250+ ethnic groups, faith in God and in each other, peace as the basis for development, and progress as the goal of governance. |
| 🌸 National Flower |
Coctus spectabilis (Flame Lily) A bright yellow flower native to the West African tropics. It appears at the base of the Coat of Arms and represents the beauty and natural richness of Nigeria. |
| 🏱 National Bird |
Black Crowned Crane
(Balearica pavonina) The national bird of Nigeria appears on the official seal and in ceremonial contexts. It is known for its elegant appearance and stately movement, symbolising grace and nobility. |
| 🎲 National Animal |
Eagle The eagle represents strength, vision and authority. It appears prominently on the Coat of Arms, perched above the shield. |
| 🏴 National Colours |
Green and White Green represents Nigeria's agricultural wealth and forests. White represents peace and unity. These colours appear on the flag, coat of arms and official insignia. |
| 📅 Independence Day |
1 October Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on 1 October 1960. Independence Day is a national public holiday celebrated with parades, ceremonies and cultural events. |
| 🏛 Capital City |
Abuja (FCT) Abuja became the federal capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos. It was purpose-built as a neutral capital accessible to all regions. |
| 💰 Currency |
Nigerian Naira (₦) — NGN Introduced on 1 January 1973, replacing the Nigerian pound. The naira is subdivided into 100 kobo. The word "naira" derives from "Nigeria." |
| 📍 Official Language |
English English is the official language of government, education, business and law. The three major indigenous languages are Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, each spoken by tens of millions. |
| 🇧🇰 Independence From |
United Kingdom (British Empire) Nigeria was a British protectorate from 1901 and a full colony from 1914 (year of amalgamation). Independence was granted peacefully on 1 October 1960. |
| Official Name | Federal Republic of Nigeria |
| Independence | 1 October 1960 |
| Republic proclaimed | 1 October 1963 |
| Capital | Abuja |
| Largest city | Lagos |
| States | 36 states + FCT Abuja |
| Local Govt. Areas | 774 LGAs |
| Geopolitical zones | 6 (North West, North East, North Central, South West, South South, South East) |
| Population | ~220 million (most populous in Africa) |
| Area | 923,768 km² |
| Ethnic groups | 250+ |
| Languages | 500+ |
| Religion | Islam (50%), Christianity (48%), Traditional (2%) |
| Government | Federal presidential constitutional republic |
| Legislature | National Assembly (Senate + House of Representatives) |
| Currency | Nigerian Naira (₦ / NGN) |
| GDP | Largest economy in Africa |
| Driving side | Right |
| Country code | +234 |
| Internet TLD | .ng |
| ISO code | NG / NGA |
Nigeria's national symbols include: the National Flag (green-white-green), the National Anthem ("Nigeria, We Hail Thee" / "Nigeria Arise"), the Coat of Arms (black shield, eagle, two horses), the National Pledge, the National Motto ("Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress"), the National Flower (Coctus spectabilis), the National Bird (Black Crowned Crane), the National Currency (Naira), and the National Colours (green and white).
The Nigerian flag has two colours. Green represents Nigeria's forests, farmland and agricultural wealth — Nigeria has some of the richest agricultural land in Africa. White represents peace and unity among Nigeria's more than 250 ethnic groups. There are no other colours on the flag.
The Nigerian flag was designed by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, a student from Ibadan who was studying in London when he submitted the design to a national competition in 1959. He was just 23 years old. His original design had a red sun in the white centre stripe, but the competition committee removed it and adopted only the green and white stripes. He was awarded ₦100 for his design.
Nigeria's current national anthem is "Nigeria, We Hail Thee" (also called "Nigeria Arise"). It was restored in May 2024, replacing "Arise O Compatriots" which had been in use since 1978. The original anthem was written by Lillian Jean Williams and has three stanzas. The first stanza begins: "Nigeria, we hail thee, Our own dear native land..."
The Nigerian Coat of Arms has several elements: the black shield represents Nigeria's fertile soil; the white Y-shaped bands on the shield represent the Niger and Benue rivers meeting at their confluence; the eagle at the top represents strength; the two horses on either side represent dignity; the yellow flowers are the national flower (Coctus spectabilis); and the banner at the bottom carries the national motto "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress".
The Nigerian National Pledge begins: "I pledge to Nigeria my country, To be faithful, loyal and honest, To serve Nigeria with all my strength, To defend her unity, And uphold her honour and glory, So help me God." It was written by Felicia Adeyoyin and adopted in 1976. It is recited by Nigerian schoolchildren every morning.
Nigeria's national motto is "Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress". It replaced the earlier motto "Peace, Unity, Freedom" after the Civil War. The four words represent the core values Nigeria aspires to: unity among its diverse peoples, faith in God and in each other, peace as the basis for development, and progress as the goal of governance.
Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule on 1 October 1960. This date is celebrated as Nigeria's Independence Day, a national public holiday. Nigeria became a republic on 1 October 1963, three years after independence.