Western Region

Western State

Lagos

Western Region

1939-1967

Western Region was a subdivision of the Federation of Nigeria until 1967. It is inhabited by the Yoruba and its capital was at Ibadan. It was established in 1939 under British rule as a subdivision of the Southern Nigeria colony. Upon independence of Nigeria in 1960, it became one of the members of the federation, along with the Eastern Region and the Northern Region.

In 1963, two provinces: Benin and Delta were split from the region to form the new Mid-Western Region.

In 1967 the regions were abolished and the area was subdivided into Lagos and Western states, which would also later be subdivided.

The achievement of Western Nigeria was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1958. It was:

Arms: Parted per by a fess wavy Argent, Azure and Gules, in chief a sword and a mace in saltire Or, in base a golden rimmed hexagram Vert, enclosing the Imperial State Crown proper.

Crest: On a wreath Gules and Vert, a lion passant guardant Or before a baobab tree fructed proper.

Supporters: Two African elephants (Loxodonta africana - Elephantidæ) proper.

Motto: LIBERTY • AND • SERVICE in blue lettering on a white ribbon.

Compartment: Two tree-trunks proper in saltire on a bare ground.

ð See illustration in the head of this essay. [1]

On the blue ensign the full achievement was placed on a white disc. On the green-white-green national flag on the white stripe.

Western State

1967 - 1976

The former Western State of Nigeria was formed in 1967 when the Western Region was subdivided into the states of Lagos and Western State. Its capital was Ibadan, which was the capital of the old region.

For the Western State the achievement of the Western Region was slightly modified:

Arms:  Gules, a pall Argent charged with a mask within a wreath; and a chief Azure, a mace and a sword Or in saltire.

Crest: A lion (Panthera leo - Felicidae) guardant resting on a grassy ground before a baobab tree fructed all proper.

Supporters: Two African elephants (Loxodonta africana - Elephantidæ) proper.

Motto: LIBERTY • AND • SERVICE in blue lettering on a white ribbon.

Compartment: Two tree-trunks proper in saltire on a bare ground. [2]

In 1976 the state was subdivided into three new states: Ogun, Ondo and Oyo.