Basic Facts about Nigeria



Population: About 120 million

Ethnic Groups: More than 250, 4000 dialects

Size: 577,355 sq miles; that is two and a half times the size of California.

Number of States: 36 plus Abuja, the Federal Capital territory

Major Ethnic Groups: Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Ibo, Igala, Kanuri, Tiv, Ibiobio, Ijaw, Edo, Efik, Urhobo, Edoma, Itsekiri.

The story of Nigeria is a selfless history of leadership in many areas. Nigeria's citizens are, not surprising, serving as the epitome of this leadership globally in the sciences, arts, humanities, sports, diplomacy etc.

Nigeria is a massive country of almost 100 million people comprising 250 ethnic groups speaking 4000 dialects. In size, it is more than two and half times the size of California. The diversity of Nigeria is reflected in its rainbow of creeds and complexions, views and counterviews, stretching from the fringes of the desert in the North to the Atlantic waters in the South.

With one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, Nigerians are their own harshest critics, loudly establishing organs to make sure they are heard. The country has the largest and most vocal press in Africa, publishing views and opinions freely expressed. However, while debates are impassioned and views varied, Nigerians largely remain united in a single, unswerving thread: ONE NIGERIA. It is this oneness that has been the guiding posts of Nigeria since independence even as it embarked upon state creation exercises in a bid to perfect its federal structure.

Nigerians have often lost their patience, but not their way, or faith, the one that reminds them that clouds may often overrun the skies; they cannot control it; that beyond the eclipse, light awaits.

Nigeria's Leadership in Global Peacekeeping

Since joining the United Nations in 1960, Nigeria has consistently committed itself to the cause of peacekeeping and peacemaking. She sent her first troops to participate in the UN peace mission in the Congo, only days after its independence. In World Citizen, a former advisor to Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Carter, Prof. Ruth Morgenthau says of Nigeria "is among the most committed countries to maintaining the degree of international order that the present UN decision making process permits."

Today, Nigeria leads the world in international peacekeeping. Of the 80 countries contributing troops to over 20 global operations, Nigeria has more than 6,500 men keeping the peace outside its borders in places such as Bosnia Herzgovena, Iraq, Kuwait, Western Sahara, Liberia, Angola, Rwanda. Nigerian troops have also served in Somalia, Mozambique and Cambodia, The Congo, Chad, Lebanon, India, Pakistan (Kashmir). The key thing in global peacekeeping are the men and women risking their lives in the interest of peace. Nigeria has more of those people than any other country in the world.

Nigeria: Leadership in Education

There are more than 18 million students in Nigerian schools at all levels. That is more than the total human population of South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and the school population of France, Britain and Spain.

The country adopted a 6-3-3-4 educational policy in 1982. The policy requires six years primary education, a two-tier (3-year junior, 3-year senior) secondary education and four years of University education. There are 31 universities in Nigeria today.

Apart from fully funding primary education all around the country, the government also runs secondary schools, and funds technical colleges, polytechnics and universities in all 30 states of Nigeria. In addition, there are hundreds of privately-owned schools duly approved by government for the benefit of those who prefer to send their children to private schools.

While literacy rate stands at about 50 per cent, one of the highest in Africa, the goal of Nigeria is to eradicate illiteracy in the shortest time possible.

A Leader in Global Sports

Nigeria has made its mark in global sports competition. Its national soccer team, the Super Eagles, is adjudged the best in Africa and one of the best ten in the world. Nigeria won the first World Cup in the under-16 category in China in 1985 and came second in the same category two years later in Canada.

Its Under-20 soccer team won the bronze medal in the Junior World Cup competition in the Soviet Union in 1985 and the silver medal in Saudi Arabia in 1989. In the 1994 World Cup competition, Nigeria led its group to qualify for the second round.

In professional boxing, Nigeria has produced three world champions (Hogan "Kid" Bassey (featherweight, 1957-1959); Dick Tiger, (middleweight, 1962-1963) and Massachusetts resident, Bash Ali (cruiserweight, 1987).

Nigeria's athletes have also won Olympic medals in long jump, 400 x 4 relay and several other track and field events.

Dozens of Nigerians are today professional athletes in Europe and America. A Nigerian based in the US, Hakeem Olajuwon, is today roundly adjudged the best basketballer in the world.

Petroleum: Nigeria's Economic Bedrock

Since 1908, when German engineers first drilled the first oil well in Nigeria, a buoyant, viable industry has sprung up. Oil is today the bedrock of Nigeria's economic development, accounting for more than 80 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings.

Nigeria's oil reserves are the ninth largest in the world. In 1987, crude oil reserves totalled 16 billion barrels. It is projected that by 1997, the reserves could rise to 20 billion barrels. Nigeria is a member of OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. A Nigerian has been elected Secretary General of OPEC for a record sixth term.

Nigeria also has vast largely unexplored natural gas reserves, the world's fifth largest. Dozens of European and American businesses are currently exploring joint venture businesses in gas production. But Nigerians themselves now realize the danger of over-dependence on the oil sector. In the past few years, deliberate attempts have been made to concentrate on agriculture and encourage manufacturing. Various schemes have been established to assist farmers at every level, resulting in impressive cutbacks in Nigeria's food import bills while changes in Nigeria's industrial policy are encouraging foreign participation in manufacturing.

santadomino said:

and they're all about to come into a large amount of money, they just need us to loan them $1200 to get it.

I guess u should come and have a look urself rather than being told about it.

santadomino said:

serioulsy, i would love to come and visit your country. i've been dreaming about it forever.

santadomino said:

that i would like to do

there are many beautiful places in africa i'd like to visit

SammiJ said:

I had a good friend in high school from Ghana. But I don't know too much about the African countries.

sinisterpentatonic said:

YOU BEAT ME TO IT MAN!!!

No cut'n'paste facts -threads plz. I would much rather read something you wrote yourself about your own country and your life there.

Novabreaker said:

WELL! I'm not from Nigeria myself but I did have my laptop stolen (and recovered) at Lagos Airport. Funnily enough it was a customs officer who stole it, and the airline "recovered" it after head-office lobbied the embassy. In the 4 days that I was there I deduced that Nigera is full of world-class scammers

GaryTheNoTrashCougar said:

Dude. Welcome to England.

i love this artifact from Nigeria

i am trying to find out more about it

did Nigerian shamins use this as a tranceposture ...

SammiJ said:

Yep. Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, and Tanzania.

I know a few people from Africa. They are so happy to be living here, makes u think WTF are we complaining for? They just seem really positive. Makes a nice change.

OMG i'd love to go to Africa!! I got two optionz- i could go stay at my friend's dad's OR i could say hello to a grand uncle who livez in Tanzania! My next trip for sure will include Africa

Novabreaker said:

I guess u feel that i cut and pasted, well i see it as mere jeolousy probably becos u know nothin about your country or even where u've been all your life.
THIS NOTE IS STRICTLY DIRECTED TO NOVABREAKER FOR "WRITER HATING".

santadomino said:

So did you or didn't you cut and paste? Novabreaker was merely suggesting that it would have been nicer to read about your own thoughts and opinions and experiences as a Nigerian rather than something we could look up in an encyclopedia ourselves. And I happen to agree with that.

So if you feel like it, please go ahead and tell us something about your country in your own words.



"Writer hating"...

GaryTheNoTrashCougar said:

I guess everyone from your country are 'SAINTS', i can't remember if you have ever cheated anyone in your life. It is greedy guys like you that are easily cheated thinking you know what you are doing. In my country we have a name for guys like you, "BAD BELLE".sorry...
THIS ONE IS STRICTLY DIRECTED TO GaryTheNoTrashCougar FOR TALKING THRASH!

retina said:[quote]

santadomino said:

What i wrote about was facts about my country, if there is something you would like to know, NOVABREAKER would have kindly ask rather than saying i cut and pasted, moreover i could still talk about my life, my childhood days and what my country have done for me. Kindly send me an orgnote if you want to know what i feel about my country.
THIS MESSAGE IS STRICTLY FOR RETINA FOR 'WRITER JUDGING'.

santadomino said:

Santadomino said:

Very interesting santadomino, Thank You.

I repeat: Nigeria is full of world-class scammers.

PS. UGANDA RULE!

If you haven't gathered, that's where I'm from originally