One of the most significant gains and tools of the nationalist movement in Nigeria was the formation of political parties, which provided a structured platform to agitate for self-rule.

The introduction of the elective principle in the 1922 Clifford Constitution led to the formation of Nigeria’s first political party, the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), founded by Herbert Macaulay in 1923.

These parties (such as the NCNC, Action Group, and NPC) were essential for mobilising the masses, increasing political consciousness and negotiating constitutional reforms that eventually led to independence on October 1, 1960.

The struggles also resulted in increased Nigerian participation in governance, higher education (like Yaba Higher College), and constitutional changes that shifted power from the British to Nigerians.