Interesting facts about Nigeria. Think you know much about the country already? You can’t be so sure until you’ve read these amazing facts about Nigeria.
In this article we would be lookin at the Most Interesting Fact about Nigeria.
Nigeria the ‘giant of Africa’ is the seventh most populous nation in the world. Located in the southern coastal part of West Africa with Abuja as its capital city. It is one of the liveliest places in Africa that continues to attract visitors from different parts of the world.
Nigeria’s journey as an independent nation may have begun on October 1, 1960, but its history dates back far before the colonial era. Many aspects of modern life in Nigeria were established in the 16th century during the colonial era but by the middle of the 20th century the desire for Africans to end all forms of foreign control and influence grew. Most countries were fighting for the right to take charge of their political, social and economic affairs which eventually led to Nigeria to be granted independence on 1 October 1960 under a constitution with parliamentary government and a favourable degree of autonomy for the country. Nigeria marked total independence from Britain when it became a federal republic after a new constitution was adopted on 1 October 1963 with Nnamdi Azikiwe as its first president.
Amazing facts about Nigeria
Nigeria is home to about seven percent (7%) of the total languages spoken in the world. Did you know that Taraba state alone has more languages than 30 African countries?
There are more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria. Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are the largest tribes in Nigeria.
The largest river in the whole of West Africa is River Niger. The river flows into the Atlantic through the Gulf of Guinea and cuts off the predominantly Igbo states in the south east from some of her sister states in the Niger Delta.
The name Nigeria is derived from River Niger.
Nigeria is one of the oldest location of human existence. The Nok civilization is the first civilization in this part of the world (around 500 BC – 200 AD).
It is believed that the world’s largest diversity of butterflies can be found in the areas surrounding Calabar in Cross Rivers state, Nigeria
The longest bridge in Africa is the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos. The bridge is 11.8 km long.
The Yoruba tribe has the highest rate of twin births in the world
In Edo state Nigeria, there is an ancient wall at over 16000km long, which is about 2 times the length of the Great Walls of China. The walls (800-1400AD), are the longest ancient earthworks in the world.
The Jos Plateau Indigobird, a small bird, reddish-brown in color, is found nowhere else on the planet but Plateau state, Nigeria.
The second largest delta on the planet is located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria
Nigeria country is also the 7th most populous nation in the world.
The Nigerian Currency – Naira was introduced in 1959
The Northern Part of Nigeria is four times larger than the size of the whole of southern Nigeria. The north has a land mass of 719000 sq. km.
There are Muslims in Nigeria than there are in the Saudi Arabia
The NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) was launched in 1973
Nollywood Nigeria is the second largest movie producer in the world after Bollywood of India.
Nigeria became a republic on the 1st of October 1963
The Anambra waxbill bird is found only in Southern Nigeria and nowhere else in the world.
The first Nigerian Nobel Laureate is Professor Wole Soyinka
The first African to win miss world beauty was Agbani Darego. She was a Nigerian University undergraduate then.
There has been 6 coups in Nigeria. The highest number of coups in African countries.
The Biafran war (Nigerian civil war) lasted between July 1967 to January 1970.
Nigeria has a total area of 923,768 km2
Nigeria is the 32nd largest country in the world in terms of landmass.
The 2 major rivers in Nigeria (River Niger and River Benue) meet at Lokoja, Lokoja state, Nigeria.
Lagos is the largest city in Africa
Nigeria shares border with Chad, Niger, Benin, Cameroon
Nigeria was the first African country to eradicate Ebola disease.
I hope you find this article helpful as well as interesting.
