Final answer:
The path to Nigeria's independence from British rule involved a gradual transfer of power and negotiation, influenced by the political awakening of African groups, recognition of local democratic traditions, and global pressures post-World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
Freedom from British colonial rule in Nigeria was more of a process of negotiation and gradual transfer of power rather than coerced abandonment. Unlike the colonization that was met with severe resistance, as with the Zulu's in South Africa, Nigeria's path to independence was more peaceful and involved significant local participation in governance. During the latter part of British colonial rule, numerous African groups and political entities, such as the National Congress of British West Africa, began advocating for greater African involvement in colonial governments. This political awakening contributed to a more amicable transition towards self-rule.
The British colonial rulers had originally perceived their rule as bringing more enlightened governance to African societies. However, African societies like the Igbo of eastern Nigeria already had highly participatory and egalitarian forms of democracy. The British eventually acknowledged these local democratic traditions and the administrative capabilities of the Nigerian people, moving towards recognizing their "natural rights". Furthermore, the aftermath of the Second World War and the success of Ghana's independence movement put additional pressure on the British. They realized the impracticality and growing unpopularity of sustaining colonial administrations, which eventually influenced the British government's decision to grant independence more willingly to Nigeria and other colonies.