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NIGERIA'S COAT OF ARMS

What is a  Coat of Arms?

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A coat of arms is a unique design usually on a shield, that can represent anything from a family, to a town, to a country. Coat of arms used to be very important in battles. They were the fastest way to identify a person in a big crowd.

 

Who you were, where you were from, could be worked out from your coat of arms. 

 

Nigeria has it's own coat of arms above. All the elements of a coat of arms usually have a meaning, when you pull all their meanings together, you get a story of what the designer wanted you to know or felt was most important about the people or the place the coat of arms represent. 

​So what does our coat of arms mean?

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  • The TWO WHITE STRIPES that come together like the letter Y on the black shield represent the two main rivers flowing through Nigeria, the Niger river on the left and the Benue River on the right. 

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  • The BLACK SHIELD represents Nigeria's fertile land, which is great for agriculture and will grow nearly anything.

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  •  The TWO HORSES on each side represent integrity and dignity of Nigeria and Nigerians.

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  • The EAGLE on the top represents the strength of Nigeria and Nigerians.​

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  • The FLOWERS at the base are a special flower found all around Nigeria, the Costus Spectabilis also known as the yellow trumpet plant.

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  • At the base of the coat of arms is the national motto - Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.

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Where is the coat of arms  used?

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Lots of places! By the president and the vice president, many parts of government  and by anyone who wants to be recognised very quickly as representing Nigeria. 

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TIME TO TRY

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  • Draw a coat of arms that represents your family.

  • What did you choose to put on your coat of arms and why?

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