10 most interesting events that occurred around the world in 1960 alongside Nigeria’s independence
Nigerian history considers the year 1960 to be a significant turning point because it was the year the nation attained independence.
Before that, Nigeria was a federation of many native West African tribes and a British protectorate.
In 1960, under the leadership of Tafawa Balewa, Fumi Ransom Kuti, lawyer Jaja A Wachukwu, and numerous other libertarians, the people chanted a new hymn of liberty.
In the British parliament and on the streets of Nigeria, their songs of independence resounded. In 1947, a representative was dispatched to present the topic in Britain. Independence was starting to resemble reality ten years later.
Nigerians started counting down to independence from Britain in 1959 as it started to look imminent. A year later, the centre of Africa officially attained freedom.
Nigeria gained its independence during a period of protracted worldwide upheaval. In what would later be known as the cold war, proxy wars that when combined could start a new world war were already well under way. Political enlightenment was at its peak, civil rights organisations were all the rage, and numerous inventions, legacies, and milestones were being made.
While Nigeria fought for its independence, a lot of things were going on around the globe. Along with the independence of the giants of Africa, 1960 saw the occurrence of a great deal of crucial events.
Africa Business Insider presents the ten most interesting events that occurred in the world in 1960 in honour of Nigeria’s independence.
Independence
It’s interesting to note that several African nations, including Cameroon, Senegal, Togo, Mali, Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Chad, CAR, Congo, Gabon, and Mauritania, also achieved independence in 1960.
Deepest exploration
The first men to reach a depth of 10,911 metres (35,797 feet) and the first humans to reach the lowest point on Earth were Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccardinto and American Navy Lt. Don Walsh.
Additional success for racial integration
A sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter was launched by four black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. They are permitted to remain at the counter even after service is declined. The incident sparked a number of such peaceful demonstrations around the Southern United States, and six months later, the first four protesters are given lunch at the same counter.
The invention of Lasers
The laser was created by American physicists Arthur Leonard Schawlow and Charles Hard Townes.
Birth of Angélique Kidjo
Angélique Kidjo was born on July 14, 1960, and is a well-known singer from Benin. She is a musician, an activist, and the only native of Benin to get a Grammy. Throughout her career, she has won 5 Grammys.
TIROS-1
For the first time in history, television cameras were able to watch the earth from orbit thanks to the Television Infrared Observation Satellite (TIROS-1). As a result, real-time orbital video monitoring systems for meteorological
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is established
To promote economic cooperation in Europe, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom establish the EFTA.
Kwame Nkrumah is inaugurated
Ghana established a republic in 1960, and Kwame Nkrumah, one of Africa’s
leading revolutionaries, switched from being prime minister to being Ghana’s first president.
Muhammad Ali wins Olympic Gold Medal
In the 1960s Olympics, Muhammad Ali, who was then known as Cassius Clay, wins the gold medal in light-heavyweight boxing for the United States.
Patrice Lumumba is arrested
Patrice Lumumba is taken into custody by the soldiers of Colonel Joseph Mobutu. Patrice Lumumba was one of the most significant characters in the Congolese battle for independence and eventually the premier of the Republic of the Congo. A year later, he would be murdered, making him a martyr for the Congolese uprising.
Birth of Diego Maradona
Birth of Diego Maradona The Argentinian would not only go on to pave the path for rising stars like Lionel Messi, but he also had a world cup trophy and nine club trophies to his name.
