Outline five achievements of the Action Group as a political party in Nigeria.

Answer Details

The Action Group (AG), founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, controlled the Western Region during the years of self-government. Five of its achievements are outlined below.

1. Free primary education: The AG government introduced the free universal primary education scheme in the Western Region in 1955, greatly expanding school enrolment and literacy.
2. Free health services: It provided free medical services, especially for children, and built hospitals and health centres across the region.
3. Infrastructural development: It embarked on the construction of roads, and established landmark projects such as the first television station in Africa (WNTV, 1959) and the Cocoa House in Ibadan.
4. Agricultural and economic development: It promoted cash-crop farming, established farm settlements and marketing arrangements, and used cocoa revenue to fund development, raising the standard of living in the region.
5. Effective and progressive administration: It ran an efficient, welfare-oriented regional government that served as a model of good governance and set the pace in social services among the regions.

The party also played a leading role in the nationalist struggle by pressing vigorously for independence and for a truly federal constitution.