Nigeria is a West African country that shares a border with Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Niger. Nigeria became an independent nation in 1960. Its capital is Abuja. Nigeria is home to more than 300 different ethnic groups and languages. The largest 3 are the Hausas, the Yorubas and the Igbos. Together they make up more than 60% of Nigeria’s population. English, however, is the official language of instruction in schools. 2 of the largest rivers in Africa meet in Nigeria. They are, River Benue and River Niger from which Nigeria actually derived its name, Niger Area. Nigeria is 30 times the size of Belgium!
Nigeria has a population of over 200 million people, which makes it the 7th most populous country in the world. Every 6th African is a Nigerian while every 5th black person in the world is a Nigerian. One of its main languages, Yoruba, is spoken in Brazil, Cuba, Colombia and many other South American countries by people stolen from Africa during the slavery trade.
Nigeria is the largest producer of crude oil in Africa but imports almost all its petroleum from its neighbours because it has no working oil refinery of its own!
In terms of religion, the country is equally divided. There are as many Christians as Muslims and a small percentage that are traditionalists. Nigeria is home to some well-known writers like the Nobel prize winner Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie and so on.
Nigeria is known for its Naija music which is the main cornerstone of what is now known as Afrobeats. It is the home of Fela Kuti, Sunny Ade, Yemi Alade, Sade, Wizkid, Davido, Burna Boy amongst others. Its film industry, Nollywood, is the largest in Africa and the 2nd largest in the world behind Bollywood but ahead of Hollywood in terms of numbers of annual productions. The country is also home to international sporting superstars like Jay-Jay Okocha, Hakeem Olajuwon, Anthony Joshua, Nwanko Kanu and many more.
Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria has a population of more than 24 million people which makes it the most densely populated city in Africa. Only 15 African countries and 9 European countries have a bigger population than the city of Lagos! Nigeria is also famous for a long running but under-reported war. No, not the 3 ½ year Biafra civil war that ended in 1970. And certainly not the war with Boko Haram. We are talking about the never-ending war with its smaller brother, Ghana, about who makes the best Jollof rice!
Nigeria is one of the most beautiful countries of the world boasting of a breath taking landscapes, vegetation, natural resources, warm temperature, rich, cultural and culinary history. But in spite of all these, the tourism industry is virtually non-existent compared to countries of Eastern and Southern Africa.
Do you know that the Ijebu people of Nigeria have the highest ratio of twins per population in the world?
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