As Nigeria prepares to mark its 66th Independence Anniversary on Thursday, October 1, pupils of Petraville Montessori School, Igando, Lagos, have brought the colours, songs and spirit of patriotism to their neighbourhood through a colourful pre-Independence celebration.
Miss/Mister Nigeria
Dressed in Nigeria’s familiar green and white colours and waving the national flag, the pupils gathered in front of their school, dancing and singing songs celebrating their country while attracting the attention of neighbours, parents and passers-by.
With bright faces and little flags in their hands, the children sang about their hopes for a better Nigeria, stressing that building the country is a responsibility shared by everyone.
“Nigeria, my beloved country. Working together is the key. Nigeria, my beloved country. Her future is you and me,” they chanted.
For many of the children, however, the celebration was more than just dressing in national colours. It offered an opportunity to express what they had learnt about Nigeria and demonstrate their affection for the country in a way that was both educational and entertaining.
One of the highlights of the event was the announcement of a boy and a girl as Mr Nigeria and Miss Nigeria, respectively.
Miss/Mister Nigeria
The pupils were selected based on how creatively and beautifully they appeared in Nigerian colours.
Petraville Montessori School has made its pre-Independence celebration an annual tradition, using the occasion to encourage pupils to learn about Nigeria, appreciate its diverse heritage and express their hopes for the country’s future.
But the Independence Day excitement was not limited to Petraville Montessori School. Several schools in Igando also organised similar pre-Independence activities, creating a mini-boom for traders selling children’s clothing in the area.
At Igando Market, parents, siblings and other relatives were seen as early as the morning hours searching for green and white outfits for children preparing for their respective school celebrations.
Petraville pupils with Nigerian currencies
Traders who stocked up on green and white polo shirts and other children’s clothing said demand was particularly strong, with some items selling out quickly.
A visit to the market showed that by about 8 a.m., several traders had already exhausted their stocks of popular green and white children’s wears. Some sellers attributed the situation to demand outstripping supply, with parents scrambling to get the right outfits before schools’ celebrations.
For the traders, therefore, Nigeria’s Independence celebration is not only a patriotic occasion; it has also provided a welcome boost to small businesses supplying the clothing and accessories needed to give children their own taste of the national celebration.
And for the pupils of Petraville Montessori School, Independence Day came alive in a particularly colourful way — with songs, dancing, flags, costumes and a simple message: Nigeria’s future belongs to everyone.
By Innocent Onoh
