Trade and the opening up of Nigeria

By the phrase ‘opening up of Nigeria’ as meant the penetration of the territory by British power and the process by which that Power gained political and economic control of the country. The’process includes the creation of an atmosphere conductive to the entrance of ‘civilizing’ forces. In both senses trade and the trader have been important in Nigeria. This article, in which also is paid attention to the part missionaries and philanthropists played in the opening up, gives a political and economic history of Nigeria in the period 1841-1914. Illustrated.