ABSTRACT
Nigerian private capital was small scale-concentrated largely in commerce, residential property, and finance-and fragmented and regional in outlook. Although in theory colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British as a single political unit, in practice the administrations of the units were distinct and independent. There was no central representative institution or unifying political focus. After World War II, under pressure from nationalist politicians, constitutional developments led to a truly federal system of government in which the regions had considerable autonomy. The Christian populations were originally built up as a result of the activity of foreign missionaries, who provided schools and health facilities. For a time, Western education and Christianity were synonymous. The Sardauna made alliances with some Christian leaders and co-opted them. The richest region was the west, by virtue of cocoa production, early access to Western education, the location of much of the industrial development, and the presence of Lagos, the capital and major port.
