Nigeria Flag Meaning
A vertical tricolor of green, white, and green. The flag was adopted at independence in 1960 and represents agriculture, unity, and peace.
- Continent
- Africa
- Adopted
- 1960
- Ratio
- 1:2
- Colors
- green, white
- Designer
- Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (student competition winner)
Symbolism
Green Stripes: Represent Nigeria’s rich agricultural land and natural wealth.
White Stripe: Symbolizes peace, unity, and honesty.
History
- 1914: Modern Nigeria was formed by the unification of Northern and Southern protectorates under British rule.
- 1959: A national competition selected the flag design created by student Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi.
- October 1, 1960: Nigeria gained independence from Britain and officially adopted the new flag.
Trivia
- The original flag design included a red sun on the white band, but it was removed by the judges for simplicity.
- Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with over 200 million people.
- The green symbolizes agriculture, which remains vital despite the dominance of oil in the economy.
- The white band is often interpreted as representing unity among diverse ethnic groups.
- Nigeria celebrates Independence Day on October 1, when the flag is widely displayed.
Related Countries
Cameroon
Africa
Three vertical stripes of green, red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star in the center of the red stripe, representing the forests, unity, the sun and savanna, and the unity of the diverse peoples of Cameroon.
Benin
Africa
A vertical green stripe on the hoist side with horizontal yellow and red stripes on the fly side, representing the forests and hope of the nation, the savannah and mineral wealth, and the courage and blood of the ancestors, using the Pan-African colors that symbolize African unity and liberation.
Equatorial Guinea
Africa
Three horizontal stripes of green, white, and red with a blue triangle at the hoist and the national coat of arms in the center, representing the country's forests, peace, independence struggle, and maritime heritage.
Togo
Africa
Five horizontal stripes alternating green and yellow with a blue canton containing a white five-pointed star, representing the country's forests and agriculture, mineral wealth, the blood shed for independence, hope and purity, and the unity of the Togolese people under one star.
Niger
Africa
Three horizontal stripes of orange, white, and green with an orange circle centered on the white stripe, representing the Sahara Desert, the Niger River, and the fertile south, with the sun symbolizing hope and determination.
Ghana
Africa
The flag of Ghana and its meaning.