ADVANTAGES OF COLONIAL RULE

1. While it is true that Africans had their own ways of educating their children, the fact that people could read and write made a significant difference in their understanding of the world
2. The establishment of educational institutions from the primary to the university level (The university college, Ibadan, was established in 1948 was a significant turning point in the Euro- African relationship
3. Exposure of Africans to the ideas of other people: Although for Africans this was from a positions of disadvantage, many elderly people still remember, many good things about the days of colonial rule.

DISADVANTAGES OF COLONIAL RULE

1. Total condemnation of the African way of life which left in Africans the feeling that they were inherently inferior to the Europeans
2. Neglect of the rural areas on account of the concentration on the urban centers for the purpose of trade. Rural-urban migration remains a major problem for west African countries today

• Distortion of the socio-economic life of the people so as to preserve the interests of the colonialists

1. Colonial administration introduced West African economies to the world at a time the Africans were not ready for it.

COMPARISON OF THE FEATURES OF THE BRITISH SYSTEM OF INDIRECT RULE WITH THOSE OF THE FRENCH POLICY OF ASSIMILATION

	INDIRECT RULE	POLICY OF ASSIMILATION
i.	Indirect rule of colonial administration	Direct rule of colonial administration
ii.	Made use of African traditional chiefs	Did not make use of African traditional chiefs
iii.	Traditional rulers served as the pivot of indirect rule	Traditional rulers did not serve as the pivot of assimilation
iv.	Traditional laws and customs were used in the administration	Traditional laws and customs were not used in the administration
v.	It was not an expensive system of administration	It was an expensive system of administration

FUNCTIONS OF THE BRITISH COLONIAL GOVERNOR IN WEST AFRICA

1. He performed ceremonial functions e.g. conferment of honors and receiving of dignitaries
2. He reported to the crown through the secretary of state to the colonies
3. He formulated social and economic policies for the colony
4. He assented to all bills passed by the legislative council
5. He exercised all the powers of head of government on behalf of the British e.g. declaration of a state of Emergency, the exercising of the prerogative of mercy

EVALUATION

1. See your workbook
2. See past WASSCE question papers

See also

THE SYSTEM OF INDIRECT RULE IN WESTERN NIGERIA

COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION (HISTORICAL BACKGROUND)

THE FIRST REPUBLICAN CONSTITUTION OF 1963

INDEPENDENCE CONSTITUTION OF 1960

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT