3. Mt. 10 Interesting Facts About Nigeria 1. The first foreigners to explore the area that will be called Nigeria were the Portuguese in 1472. Having been a former British colony, it found itself comfortable joining the British Commonwealth, an association that predominantly comprises colonies of the former British Empire. Nigeria is a country on the continent of Africa. There are 152 accredited universities in Nigeria, The Third Mainland Bridge was the longest bridge in Nigeria until 1996 when the October 6 Bridge was built in Cairo, The most prominent ethnic groups are the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. Nollywood is now the most dominant source of movies for Africa and its diaspora (including the Caribbean, North America, South America). As such, when you are on your holiday visit to Nigeria, don’t be mistaken by looking at senior citizens directly in their eyes. Lagos Is The Birthplace Of Many Styles Of Music The city is famous throughout the continent for its rich culture and music. Largest population in Africa. Nigerian movies espouse Africa’s rich cultural heritage and have become a means to preserve and re-invigorate this culture from the threats of modernity. Nigeria has overtaken Ireland in Guinness sales and is the number 2 consumer of Guinness worldwide. 7% of the world’s languages are spoken in Nigeria. There is a high plateau of extinct volcanoes in the centre of the country and a mountainous area along its border with Cameroon. To send this article to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of … Mega-state at Igbo-Ukwu has complex social structure, produces copious artefacts including bronzes. Nigeria is home to the single largest monument in Africa (Sungbo’s Eredo), which is also the largest city of the medieval world. Multinational state. The capital became the Federal Capital Territory in December 12, 1991, The current president of Nigeria is Muhammad Buhari, Lagos is the most industrialized state in the country, Nigeria shares border with four other African countries: Chad, Niger, Benin, Cameroon. Niger is the largest country in Western Africa.We have put together the following 12 interesting facts about Niger to give you an overview of this 1.2 million kilometers square land. They date back as far as the 5th century BC, when communities living around the southern slopes of the Jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures - in a tradition known now as the Nok culture , from the Nigerian village where these sculptures are first unearthed. However, the lingua franca of Nigeria is English. The country has a population of 188,462,640 people, making it the 7th most populous country in the world. Call us on +1 (206) 279-1367 between 10am - 4pm EST. This name comes from the vastness of its land, the diversity of its peoples and languages, its huge population (the largest in … People from other parts of Nigeria and the neighboring countries migrate to Lagos in search of a better life and new economic opportunities. Nigeria is infamous for advanced fee fraud (419) which is a form of bank fraud. Nigerian Cuisine. It was built in 1965, The Northern Part of Nigeria is four times the size of the south with a land mass of 719000 sq. Nigeria is a member of both the British Commonwealth and the African Union. This poverty level is high despite Nigeria being Africa’s leading exporter of oil and having one of the highest numbers of university graduates and scholars. Nigeria's main ethnic groups are Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. Here are 5 Fast Facts about our newly launched efforts there: 1. President Gowon split Nigeria into 12 states in 1967. Article continued below 6-10 Nigeria Facts 6. The Columbus and Putty Nose monkeys are ever waiting to wave you back in a warmly welcoming gesture. Take a look below for 30 more fascinating and interesting facts about Niger. Nigeria has one of the highest number of coups in Africa with 6 coups, The civil war in Nigeria broke out between July 1967 to January 1970, The oldest water works in Africa is found in Nigeria, Nigeria is the fifth fastest growing internet population in Nigeria, The first black African to win gold at the Commonwealth games was Emmanuel Ifeajuna. Niger, officially known as the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa named after the Niger River. His name is Aliko Dangote, the founder of the Dangote Group. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country is established in West Africa. In 1976, 75 kobo exchanged to one British pound and 60 kobo to one US dollar. Music and dances are based on traditional motifs, as the culture itself which dates back to the Nok civilization. While that may be a... 2. In terms of area, it is the 32nd largest country at 356,669 square miles. Nigeria is one of the commonwealth countries which were former British colonies ruled by the British government. The country is bounded on the North by Niger Republic, on the West by Republic  of Benin, and on the East by Cameroon. A distinctive feature of the local cuisine is local agricultural products. Nigeria is a country located in West Africa. The walls of Benin are the longest ancient works in the world enclosing 500 communities at a distance of 6500 sq.km, The oldest known boat in Nigeria called the Dufuna boat was discovered in 1987. The average Nigerian is able to converse in English. Our Country Director in Nigeria, Nari Welye, earned her law degree in 2011 from the University of Maiduguri and has worked tirelessly for women's rights and victims of gender-based violence. It is quite interesting and learning to speak as a foreigner will endear you to the locals. The … Through the Nigerian movies, many African can appreciate the rich cultural values, folklore, and tradition and the important lessons these values hold to the dignity of the African society. However, Nigeria has since relocated its capital city to a more interior and safer Abudja. It is a federal republic comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja, is located. Other than English, the other major languages in Nigeria … The official name for Nigeria is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Unlike Western culture, both African and oriental societies abhor the act of looking people directly in the eyes. Legit.ng News ★ Here we have ★ 10 facts about Nigerian people and culture ★ you might have not known before. Nature lovers will be awed by the plenty of flora and fauna whose fabulously lush vegetation is taken care of by the buffalo herds while leopards guard its ranges. Nigeria comprises of a region with one of the most ancient civilizations. The varieties of the English language that are used in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. The country's large size means that there are several different climatic zones, each with their own unique weather pattern. The major system of transportation in the country is the road transportation system, The Pidgin English is the popular Lingua Franca in the country, The life expectancy in Nigeria is about 52.62 years, Nigeria was the first African country to eradicate the Ebola threat in 2015, 68% of the Nigerian populace are literate, Transparency International ranks Nigeria has the 136. The most obvious negative political impact is the dependence of Nigeria on the Great Britain. Many changes accompanied British rule: Western education, the English language, and Christianity spread during the period; new forms of money, transportation, and communication were developed; and the Nigerian economy became based on the export of cash crops. According to the World Bank, Nigeria's GDP was... 3. Largest economy in Africa. Not only have there been many historical dynasties over time, but there are also many artifacts that continue to be discovered pointing towards the sophistication of the ancient civilization that once occupied the land. The state with the highest number of universities in Nigeria is Ogun State with a total of 9 registered universities. Through its dominant position within the ECOWAS. 1. This is considered as an aggressive posture that ought to be shunned, especially when it someone younger facing someone much older or more superior. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added a big batch of Nigerian words to its new edition, in recognition of the way people from the African country have helped to shape the English … The Southern and Northern Nigerian Protectorates was amalgamated in1914, Nigeria is referred to as the Giant of Africa due to their population and economy, Nigeria is located in the Western part of Africa with a total area of 923,768 km, The main rivers in Nigeria are the river Niger and river Benue, The 2 major rivers meet at Lokoja and they empty into the Nigeri Delta, The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi at 7936 ft, There are 36 states in Nigeria with one Federal Capital Territory, There are eight cities with a population of over 1 million people, Lagos is the largest city in Nigeria and Africa, Lagos state has a population of over 15 million people, Petroleum provides 80% of government earning. Nigeria is often called the "Giant of Africa." Nigeria has the biggest population in Africa, followed closely by Egypt. The capital is Abuja. The richest man in Africa is a Nigeria. Ironically, Nigeria is also the current poverty capital of the world, with about 80 million Nigerians living in abject poverty. This has contributed to civil strife which the federal republic struggles to contain. The main African languages in Nigeria are: Hausa, Igbo, also referred to as Ibo, Yoruba, Fulani and Kanuri. We have assembled the following 12 interesting facts to help you discover more about this vast land of Africa. The Nigerian Government was converted from his parliamentary system to a presidential system of government by the Obasanjo civilian regime. Nigerian immigrants in the U.S are one of the most educated, In 1984, you didn’t need a visa to travel to the United Kingdom as a Nigerian, At some point in the country’s history, the North was the most literate part of Nigeria with over 25 000 Quranic Schools and over 250 000 pupils. He is the founder and CEO of Nigerian Finder.com. Lagos is the most populous city in the country and the African continent, as well as one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Nigeria is the seventh-most populous country in the world, home to more than 200 million people. The anambra waxbill bird is found only in Southern Nigeria and nowhere else in the world. 800 – Yoruba civilisation already well established, based on thirteen farming villages centred at Ilé-Ifẹ̀. Here's what you need to know about the "Giant of Africa." The British Governors decided the fate of the nation without consulting the people of Nigeria. Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sovereign country in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west.