Next: 1 Oct 2027
Independence Day (Nigeria)
Green, white, green: the flag, and the same colours in head ties, caps and flowing gowns.
The colours of Independence Day (Nigeria)
Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960. Its flag was designed the year before by a student, Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi: three upright bands, green, white and green. The green stands for the country's farmland and forests and the white for peace and unity. On the day people wear the two colours in the styles of their own region. There are green and white agbada, the wide gown of the Yoruba and Hausa, wrappers and blouses sewn from green and white ankara print, and gele, the stiff head tie folded into a tall shape. Parades are held in Abuja, schoolchildren march with paper flags, and the green and white shirts of the national football team are everywhere.
#008751Naija greenThe two outer bands: farmland and forest.#FFFFFFPeace whiteThe middle band: peace and unity.#8BC34AAnkara limePrinted cotton in lighter greens.Values are fair approximations, not official shades.
Read about the colours
Written by the Rang desk with AI assistance. Background: "Independence Day (Nigeria)" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from family to family and place to place. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.