Google, a global digital company, created a special doodle to commemorate Nigeria’s 61st Independence Day. The October 1, 2021, Google Doodle icon features the national color, green and white, together with the eagle that is atop the national coat of arms, as a means to commemorate the occasion. “On this day in 1960, Africa’s most populous country (with over 200 million inhabitants) became a sovereign republic, an anniversary commemorated as Nigeria’s Independence Day,” Google Doodle noted in an explanation of the artwork. Today’s Doodle honors this significant milestone by featuring the eagle, Nigeria’s national animal and emblem of strength.
A crimson eagle extends its wings over a wreath of green and white, the primary colors of Nigeria that are also depicted in the Doodle artwork and stand for peace and fertility, respectively, in the country’s coat of arms. The Nigerian slogan, “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress,” is the basis of the coat of arms beneath these symbols. As people from all walks of life come together to commemorate more than 60 years of Nigerian history, today’s Independence Day celebration exemplifies this official motto.
