Fatshimetrie, a magazine dedicated to postal and philatelic history, highlights a major event that recently celebrated a significant milestone in Nigeria’s postal history. June 10, 2024 marked the 150th anniversary of the issue of the first postage stamps for the region of what is now known as Nigeria. These stamps, commonly known as the “Lagos Stamps,” were issued in 1874 during the reign of Her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
The commemoration has generated a buzz among stamp collectors and postal history enthusiasts across the world. A milestone event took place on 29 August 2024 at Oxford Brookes University, where Dr Simon Heap gave a presentation entitled “The 150th Anniversary of Nigeria’s First Postage Stamps; Lagos 1874” at the Lagos Studies Association Conference, part of the African Studies Association Conference UK. The conference, which was well-attended in the social sciences and humanities in Europe, attracted many participants, including online.
The article highlights the importance of celebrating the 150th anniversary of Nigeria’s first postage stamps, highlighting the crucial role these stamps played in the country’s postal history. Before the advent of the digital age, postage stamps were the primary vehicles for written communication across the world, enabling correspondence to travel to its final destination. Postage stamps also have inestimable philatelic value, providing educational, historical, cultural and even financial benefits to millions of collectors around the world.
However, it is unfortunate to note the lack of recognition of this important anniversary by the Nigerian Postal Service, NIPOST. This omission is in stark contrast to past celebrations, where major events were held to mark the anniversaries of Nigerian postage stamps. In 1994, the 120th anniversary of the first Nigerian stamps was celebrated with great pomp, while in 2004, special stamps were issued to mark the 130th anniversary. In 2014, the 140th anniversary was combined with Nigeria’s centenary celebrations as a country, with the issuance of commemorative stamps highlighting the country’s elected leaders since independence.
The decision not to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Nigerian postage stamps appears to be a strategic mistake on the part of the postal administration, thereby depriving the country, especially its youth, of the educational and cultural significance of postage stamps and philately. The omission also underscores the decline in the practice of philately in Nigeria. Celebrating such a significant event would have provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the history and heritage of the Nigerian Postal Service.
In conclusion, the 150th anniversary of Nigeria’s first postage stamps is a milestone in the country’s postal history and deserves to be celebrated. Such a commemoration would not only have served to recall the importance of postage stamps in the past but also inspire future generations to discover and appreciate Nigeria’s postal and philatelic heritage.