Jump to content

Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Independence Day (Nigeria)/archive2

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was archived by David Fuchs via FACBot (talk) 13 February 2025 [1].

Independence Day (Nigeria)

[edit]
Nominator(s): Vanderwaalforces (talk) 13:37, 1 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Nigeria's Independence Day is a public holiday observed annually on 1 October to commemorate the country's declaration of independence from British rule in 1960. It marked the end of over sixty years of colonial governance and the emergence of Nigeria as a self-governing constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations. The inaugural celebrations featured a formal ceremony in Lagos, attended by Nigerian leaders and international dignitaries.

This had extensive reviews in the previous nomination and a lot has been worked on. This now easily meets the FAC criteria. Thank you! Vanderwaalforces (talk) 13:37, 1 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Toadspike

[edit]

I have read up to the Significance and observance header and found no prose issues. I will continue this review tomorrow. Please ping me if I forget. Toadspike [Talk] 06:50, 4 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Toadspike I hope you did not forget :) Vanderwaalforces (talk) 13:18, 5 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  • ”Independence Day in Nigeria includes events that commemorate the nation's progress and foster unity through nationwide celebrations” - I don’t like “includes” here. I would reword as “Independence Day in Nigeria is celebrated nationwide with events…”
  • ”A prominent aspect of the celebrations is the military parade” - since it is “the” military parade, is there only one? If so, where is it? Is it televised? Are there any notable participants (often these are cadets of a military academy)?
  • Same question for ceremonial flag raising and president’s speech: where?
  • ”Communities across Nigeria” - is there any way to be more specific? Do all communities celebrate? I am not very knowledgeable about Nigeria but I know that there are some very remote areas, areas with different religions, and areas that are/were controlled by separatist groups – do all of these celebrate Independence Day?
  • Global celebrations: If the New York one is the biggest, it should be listed first, before the example from London. I also find an event that has occurred annually for over 30 years to be a much better example than a single parade, which seems a little out of place.
  • Same goes for the one example message from Joe Biden, which seems a little out of place.
  • Link “decolonisation”
  • ”Since independence, Nigeria joined…” this repeats something said earlier and doesn’t fit well in this section. I suggest removing it here. I also think the later part of this sentence, about leadership, sounds a little promotional, but if the source backs it up it’s okay and can be moved up to the History section.
  • Very important question: Do Nigerians get the day off of work? The term “public holiday” is used in the lead, but the specifics aren’t given. For instance, is it a “bank holiday”? Do government employees get the day off? What about the private sector? If it is on a weekend, is the next Monday (or prior Friday) “Independence Day (observed)”?
  • It is indeed a national holiday, so yea, the Federal Government employees and the private sector gets that day off. As a Nigerian who observes it, yes, if it falls on a weekend the following Monday is usually declared a public holiday. For example, in 2017, October 1 was a Sunday, but the government announced Monday, October 2 as a public holiday. --Vanderwaalforces (talk) 14:13, 10 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
  • I think the “Selected speeches and statements” section should be retitled “Notable speeches and statements”. I know “Notable” means something else onwiki, but “Selected” sounds like we are making an editorial judgement on what to select, which seems inappropriate.
  • Either it should be shown that the two speeches mentioned are the only important ones/by far the most important, or some more examples should be selected and added. The section probably needs an intro paragraph explaning which examples were selected and why. Even a single sentence, like “Several presidential speeches given on Independence Day have been important to Nigerian history and politics.” would suffice.

Esculenta

[edit]

Comments: Esculenta (talk) 07:10, 6 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

  • Some thoughts I have about coverage (non-expert pov). There's thorough coverage of the historical background and independence process, but the contemporary celebration aspects could be more detailed. For example, the article mentions cultural celebrations but doesn't fully explore specific traditions or regional variations in how the day is celebrated. What are the economic and social impacts of the holiday on Nigerian society?
  • One possible area for improvement is the coverage of how the celebration has evolved over different political eras. While the article discusses some key speeches, it could better analyze how different regimes have used the holiday for political purposes, including shifts in government messaging or public sentiment. The article might benefit from more detail about how ordinary Nigerians experience and participate in the celebrations, rather than focusing primarily on official ceremonies and international recognition.
  • The structure is logical and well-organized, moving from historical background to current observances, though some sections like "Selected speeches and statements" feel somewhat isolated and could be better integrated into the overall narrative.
  • The prose would benefit from some work; sometimes small adjustments in sentence structure and word choice can improve readability and help make the prose more concise and engaging. Some sample suggestions follow:
  • "Observed across the country, Independence Day includes various cultural and official events such as military parades, traditional dances, and flag-raising ceremonies. Outside Nigeria, the holiday is marked by the Nigerian communities with cultural events celebrating their heritage." somewhat choppy and repetitive; suggest something like "Independence Day is observed nationwide through official ceremonies including military parades and flag-raising events, alongside traditional dances and cultural celebrations—a pattern mirrored by Nigerian communities abroad who mark the holiday by celebrating their heritage."
  • "British colonial involvement in Nigeria began with the annexation of Lagos in 1861. By 1914, the British unified the Northern and Southern protectorates, along with the Colony of Lagos, to form Nigeria, introducing a centralised administrative framework." 2nd sentence awkwardly structured with multiple clauses; perhaps "... In 1914, the British created a centralized Nigeria by unifying the Northern and Southern protectorates with the Lagos Colony."
  • "Between 1985 and 1993, Ibrahim Babangida delivered a series of Independence Day speeches addressing Nigeria's economic challenges and military governance. His speeches frequently outlined government strategies, acknowledged the difficulties caused by the Structural Adjustment Program, and urged public cooperation." suggest "During his 1985–1993 tenure, Ibrahim Babangida used Independence Day addresses to confront Nigeria's economic challenges and defend military governance. These annual speeches outlined government strategies while acknowledging hardships caused by the Structural Adjustment Program and appealing for public cooperation."
  • @Esculenta: Thank you for these comments. Regarding your first two points, I do not think I have anything actionable because I remember vividly when I first brought this article as an FAC, during that first review a lot of details were deemed overdetailed and redundant, and that they're not needed on an article about just the day. I had several of these things you're currently asking me to put now, but they were removed. So, I am entirely uninterested in adding any more information to this article because it is already stressful for me, plus, as per the first review this article underwent, they're unnecessary and redundant. I will address the prose suggestions you suggested as soon as I can, please help provide any more suggestion if need be. Thank you! --Vanderwaalforces (talk) 08:34, 7 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Esculenta Thank you! I incorporated your suggestions. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 14:14, 10 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Graham Beards

[edit]

I am sorry to have to oppose. The article is not FA level. It just comes across as cobbled together with no solid information apart from dates. The incidents mentioned that have impacted the celebrations are little more than footnotes. Most of the one and two sentence paragraphs could be combined, but I get the impression that they are deliberately separate to make the article look more substantial. I concede it is difficult to write articles about national holidays, (see Independence Day (United States) for example), but this does not mean we should lower the FA bar. Most of the points raised in the article's first FAC still apply. Graham Beards (talk) 14:11, 12 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Graham Beards, I must respectfully express my strong disagreement with your perspective above. You stated that It just comes across as cobbled together with no solid information apart from dates, but I find this characterisation entirely inappropriate, disrespectful, and indicative of a bad-faith assumption; every admin was once an editor without the sysop bit. Given the substantial effort I have put into improving this article compared to its earlier state, it is unfair to suggest that it lacks solid information. Your remark that ...but I get the impression that they are deliberately separate to make the article look more substantial is not only misplaced but also dismissive of the extensive work invested in this article. While I fully understand that the review is focused on the article itself and not on me as an editor, this comment nonetheless appears to disregard the improvements made. I find it perplexing that you would refer me to Independence Day (United States) as an example, suggesting that it is inherently difficult to write featured articles about national holidays. If this is your reasoning, then I must express my disappointment, particularly given your role as both an administrator and an editor with experience in featured content. This perspective suggests a systemic bias—one that has been evident since my first nomination (especially as described in WP:SYSBIAS); I got a baseless oppose slapped at the nomination without useful comments on how the article can be improved. Your comment appears to imply that until Independence Day (United States) attains FA status and serves as a model, no other article on an Independence Day can be recognised as a featured article. This is deeply disheartening. You stated that Most of the points raised in the article's first FAC still apply, yet every single concern raised in the previous nomination was addressed before I renominated it. Even those issues that were unresolved before the prior nomination was archived were subsequently fixed. Given this, I must ask for clarification: What specific concerns do you have regarding this article, beyond the inaccuracies in your comments above? It is evident that a thorough review of the article has not been conducted. Articles do not need to be as long as a novel before it can attain FA status. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 16:51, 12 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Oh dear. This is not how we respond to reviews here. To suggest I acted in bad faith and, as an administrator, I should behave differently, and that I have not conducted a thorough review, is most inappropriate, to put it politely. I understand your reaction. One of my FACS, in fact more than one, received opposition, and I was annoyed but I worked with the reviewers to resolve the issues. I suggest you retract the personal attacks that you have made and your questioning of my integrity. You have shot the messenger; that's never a good thing. Without reviewers there wouldn't be any Featured Articles. Graham Beards (talk) 21:02, 12 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Your comment appears to imply that until Independence Day (United States) attains FA status and serves as a model, no other article on an Independence Day can be recognised as a featured article. : I can't see that as a reading of what Graham wrote, which was I concede it is difficult to write articles about national holidays, (see Independence Day (United States) for example). Without wishing to put words in Graham's mouth, the straightforward reading of that comment is that articles on national holidays tend to have problems, and that the US Independence Day article gives examples of many of the problems he is talking about. UndercoverClassicist T·C 12:20, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That is exactly what I meant. Thanks. Graham Beards (talk) 12:31, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Oppose from UC

[edit]

I think Graham has it right, broadly. Reading again, and conscious that I opposed on first nomination, I don't think this article is substantially improved from when it left FAC the last time. Some concrete obstacles to promotion are below, though these are of course not exhaustive:

  • The lead does not meet MOS:LEAD as a summary of the article. It seems to cover only roughly half of it (down to "Global celebrations..."
  • I am not sure the construction of the "Historical background" section quite meets the brief: it is a (very) potted history of Nigerian independence, rather than of the day itself. I would particularly like to know if the date of 1 October was itself significant before it was chosen as independence day.
  • I am not convinced that the sourcing passes HQRS muster. Some specifics:
    • Most of the sources are news sites, rather than scholarly ones: I don't think they have been discussed at RSN, but major historical information is cited to Legit.ng; this BBC image gallery is cited repeatedly, as is this image gallery from the Daily Trust, another Nigerian newspaper.
    • TheCable, about which I can find little evidence of reliability, is also cited (incorrectly, as it is listed in Further Reading).
    • We also have three cites to the explanatory notes of a Google Doodle.
  • The formatting of the sources is wildly inconsistent.
  • The "Historical challenges" section title needs a look: these are not challenges to the event, but rather "bad things that happened in connection with it". "Challenges" reads as a euphemism, or perhaps as something a politician might say, not as an encyclopaedic statement.
  • On sourcing: the material on the C130 crash is cited to this page at archivi.ng (another source that seems of un-established reliability, and is certainly not an academic or scholarly work), and several facts in the article do not appear in the source. For instance, there is no support for The crash impacted the armed forces, with Babangida describing it as a profound loss. Similarly, five military officers from other African countries have become military officers and foreign dignitaries, which implies a distinction and greater status than supported by the source. Checking a few other sources, I have wider doubts about WP:TSI throughout.

I would advise withdrawing and working on the article away from FAC, starting with an "upgrade" of the sources to the best ones available, followed by a scrupulous check to make sure that every referenced fact in the article is explicitly stated in the cited source. UndercoverClassicist T·C 17:35, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Withdrawal

[edit]

This nomination can now be archived. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 18:14, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@FAC coordinators: ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 18:20, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Airship

[edit]

I'm not going to oppose, because I've seen worse, but the article needs work and I'd like to suggest improvements before this nomination is archived.

  • MOS:LEAD states that the lead section needs to summarise the article. This is not currently done.
  • I cannot see a need for the "Colonial era and path to independence" section in its current form. The article is on Nigeria's Independence Day, not the country's independence.
  • This source, cited thrice, quotes a Google Doodle summary. That is not a reliable source.
  • "draw large crowds, showcasing Nigeria's heritage" how do the large crowds showcase Nigeria's heritage? Similarly, how do traditional meals "reinforc[e] cultural ties"? Ties between whom, the chef and the diners?
  • Why is this source, cited thrice, a HQRS?
  • "Local celebrations complement national events." doesn't seem to be verified in the cited punchng source. I don't think the bit about the schools is WP:DUE either.
  • The article has a tendency to state facts, followed by a nebulous statement about cultural harmony which begins with a semi-WP:WEASEL. The article would be well served by cutting all the latter halves. Here are all of the examples I can find:
An alarmingly long list
    • Public celebrations included cultural displays and parades, reflecting the nation's ethnic diversity
    • In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Balewa reflected on the significance of self-governance and outlined Nigeria's role in global affairs, committing the nation to peaceful diplomacy and cooperation within the Commonwealth
    • Since independence, Nigeria joined the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations, affirming its position as a leader in Africa and an advocate for decolonisation movements.
    • A prominent aspect of the celebrations is the military parade, showcasing the discipline of the armed forces and often accompanied by military bands
    • Some communities across Nigeria host events featuring traditional meals like jollof rice and plantains, reinforcing cultural ties
    • In Lagos, public festivities such as parades and cultural displays draw large crowds, showcasing Nigeria's heritage
    • For example, in 2022, a march through central London included stops at Trafalgar Square, the Nigerian High Commission, and 10 Downing Street, highlighting the pride and unity of Nigerian communities abroad
    • In Canada, the Province of Manitoba formally recognised Nigerian Independence Day in 2024, celebrating Nigerian contributions to the region's cultural and economic development.
    • Gowon called for Nigerians to rededicate themselves to building "a strong united and prosperous Nigeria," appealing for reconciliation and inclusiveness.
    • Over the years, these speeches have evolved into platforms for addressing the nation's pressing socio-economic issues, reflecting the complexities of modern governance in Nigeria.
  • The paragraph on Babadinga's speeches says much the same thing about Nigerian growth needing economic reforms four separate times. This needs to be one. Similarly, the paragraph on Gowon's speech says something amounting to "he focused on reconciliation and unity" five or six times, depending on how you count it. Nothing of value is added by the repetition.

Hope that helps. Feel free to ping me if you need more advice. ~~ AirshipJungleman29 (talk) 18:20, 13 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Featured_article_candidates/Independence_Day_(Nigeria)/archive2&oldid=1275604944"