Here are some fun and interesting facts about Nigeria.
- It is said that the name “Nigeria” originates from the Niger River that flows through the country. A lot of historians claim that the English journalist Flora Shaw came up with the name Nigeria in an article she wrote for the Times of London in 1897.
- Nigeria is located on the West Coast of Africa. It shares borders by land with other countries like Cameroon and Chad in the east, Niger in the north, and Benin in the west. The coast of Nigeria is found in the Gulf of Guinea, which is in the northeastern part of the Atlantic Ocean.
- The most populous city is Lagos, having more than 21 million people. Lagos was named by Portuguese settlers after local lakes.
- Lagos was the capital city of Nigeria until 1991 when it was changed to Abuja.
- In Abuja, there is the Aso Rock that is a 400 meter high monolith overlooking the capital.
- Generally, the country enjoys a hot climate and two major seasons, which are the rainy and dry season. Each lasts about half of the year.
- Having a population of over 200 million, and more than 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria is the most diverse and populous country on the African continent. It is also the 7th most populated country in the world. This means that one in every 7 Africans is a Nigerian.
- There are more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria - the three largest of which are the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo. Some widely spoken languages include, Kanuri, Ijaw, Ibibio, Fulfulde, Tiv, Urhobo, Efik, Igala, Ebira, Itsekiri, and Nupe.
- Nigeria is the 12th largest oil producer and the 8th largest exporter of crude oil in the world. This is the mainstay of the economy and accounts for almost 90 percent of its revenue.
- Nigeria has one of the largest river systems in the world. In fact, the Niger Delta River is the third largest delta in the world.
- The Niger and Benue River (which the country was named after) are the largest rivers in Nigeria; they join and empty into the large Niger Delta.
- The currency in Nigeria is the Naira.
- The official language of Nigeria is English, and is used in education, business, and for official aims. In rural areas, indigenous languages are more commonly spoken.
- Even though English is the official language of Nigeria, the people there speak over 500 other languages as well. Pidgin, which is a combination of English and native language, is not an official language. But it is widely spoken in Nigeria.
- Chappal Waddi, standing at 2,419 m (7,936 ft) is the highest point in Nigeria.
- One of the most popular sports in Nigeria is Football (soccer). The national team called the "Super Eagles". They have made five appearances at the World Cup, won the African Cup of Nations three times, and won the football gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, making them the first African country to win gold medal for football in the Olympics.
- The national basketball team of Nigeria qualified for the 2012 Olympics and the country has exported various players to America's NBA, including, Hakeem Olajuwon.
- In the United States, Nigerians are the most educated immigrant community. Not one of the most educated, the most educated. About 60 percent of Nigerians in the America have college degrees. This is far more than the American national average of 30 percent.
- The designer of the popular car, Chevrolet Volt, Jelani Aliyu, is a super talented Nigerian that comes from Sokoto State.
- When it comes to delicacies, Pounded Yam is one of most popular dishes. Nigerians enjoy it with a variety of soups such as Egusi, Okra, Ogbono, and Vegetable soup. Also, jollof rice, a stew of tomato and rice, is a famous meal.
- The film industry in Nigerian, Nollywood, is the second largest feature film producer in the world. Averagely, the Nigerian film industry makes more than 1,000 movies yearly. This number is right below the number of movies in Bollywood and Hollywood film industry.
So, there you go – some amazing fun facts about Nigeria for you.
Learn more about Nigeria and other African countries with DVDs 1 2 3 and the 'I Love Africa Map' .
