Nigeria becomes the first Anglophone independent state in Africa to become an associate member of EEC

Updated: 15 Jul 2020

Nigeria became the first Anglophone, independent African state to become an associate member of the European Economic Community, (EEC). The move to become an associate member of EEC came less than a decade after the country gained its independence from Britain in October 1960. The EEC came into being on 25 March, 1957, when West Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium signed a treaty in Rome, Italy. Also known as Common Market, the EEC was a major step in Europe's movement toward economic and political union. In the same year Nigeria experienced a major crisis. A small group of army officers, mostly South Eastern Igbos, overthrew the government and assassinated the federal Prime Minister and the Premiers of the Northern and Western regions. The federal military government that assumed power was unable to address ethnic tensions or produce a constitution acceptable to all sections of the country. Its efforts to abolish the federal structure greatly raised tensions and led to another coup in July.

How we know this

01History.com, ‘Common Market Founded’, [online], available at www.history.com (Accessed: 05 June 2012)
02Boddy-Evans A, ‘This Day In African History: 16 July’, from About African History.com, [online], available at www.africanhistory.about.com (Accessed: 05 June 2012)]
03South African History Online, ‘Nigeria’, [online], available at www.sahistory.org.za (Accessed: 05 June 2012)

Last updated · 15 Jul 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, July 13). Nigeria becomes the first Anglophone independent state in Africa to become an associate member of EEC. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088199

South African History Online (2012) 'Nigeria becomes the first Anglophone independent state in Africa to become an associate member of EEC', South African History Online, 13 July. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088199 (Accessed: 14 October 2026).

South African History Online, Nigeria becomes the first Anglophone independent state in Africa to become an associate member of EEC [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088199, (accessed 14 October 2026).

"Nigeria becomes the first Anglophone independent state in Africa to become an associate member of EEC." South African History Online, 13 July 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088199. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Nigeria becomes the first Anglophone independent state in Africa to become an associate member of EEC." South African History Online. July 13, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0088199.