Fellow countrymen and women: today, the first of October 1963, Nigeria takes her place among the republics of the world. The Queen of England ceases from this day to be our Sovereign; the President of the Federal Republic is now the Head of State.
Three years ago, on this same day, we became an independent nation within the Commonwealth. Today we complete that journey. Our destiny is now wholly in our own hands. Let us so conduct ourselves that history will record that we were worthy of the trust placed in us by those who fought and prayed for this day.