TODAY IN HISTORY – 16th Oct, 2026 – ORBITS NEWS

TODAY IN HISTORY – 16th Oct, 2026 – ORBITS NEWS

By Valentine Uchechukwu Ndukwu.

George Orwell was right when he observed that the most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.

The team of Today in History opines that the general essence of what we represent is reduced to nothing when we forget who we are and how we got to where we are.

The goal of Today in History is not basically for random collection of historical facts but an effective awareness of seasons, times and that would around us.

It is on the strength of that foundation that we crave your indulgence on some remarkably important events that took place today in years that were.

On this day in 1736, Mathematician William Whiston’s predicted comet failed to strike the Earth.

Still on this day in 1843, William Rowan Hamilton invents quaternions, a three-dimensional system of complex numbers.

Again, on this day in 1846, William T. G. Morton administers ether anesthesia during a surgical operation.

Today in History reveals that on this day in 1869, the Cardiff Giant, one of the most famous American hoaxes, is “discovered”.

Today in History also shows that on this day in 1923, Walt Disney and his brother, Roy, found the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, today known as The Walt Disney Company.

Remember the 1946 Nuremberg trials, where ten defendants found guilty by the International Military Tribunal are executed by hanging? It took place on this day.

Also remember the 1953 speech delivered by Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, where he revealed “History Will Absolve Me”? It took place but be would later be sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment by the Fulgencio Batista government for leading an attack on the Moncada Barracks.

Still on this day in 1968, Tommie Smith and John Carlos are ejected from the US Olympic team for participating in the Olympics Black Power salute.

Interestingly, on this day in 1968, Yasunari Kawabata became the first Japanese person to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Today in History also reveals that on this day in 1973, Henry Kissinger and Lê Đức Thọ were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Amazingly too, it was on this day in 1984 that Desmond Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Regrettably on this day in 1991, George Hennard ran amok in Killeen, Texas, killing 23 and wounding 20.

On the home soil, on this day in 1986, the Swedish Academy officially issued the press release announcing Wole Soyinka as the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature on this exact date.

Still on the home soil, on this day in 1965, Nwafor Orizu constitutionally assumed office as Acting President of Nigeria on this day when Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe departed for medical leave.

Remember the #EndSARS Candlelight in 2020 where massive, synchronized candlelight processions were held across Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt) on this Friday evening to honor victims of police brutality? It took place that.

Sadly, it was on this exact day in 1993 that the iconic author of Efuru (Flora Nwapa) passed away from pneumonia in Enugu at the age of 62.

Today is World Food Day. For the records, it is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organizations concerned with hunger and food security, including the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

They would tell you “it doesn’t matter” but it doesn’t matter, matters a dozen… You’re the point man ~ please, keep pointing in the right direction.

Today in History!