Interesting Facts About Nigeria

These interesting facts about Nigeria are probably not a part of your well of knowledge but they should be.

I once overheard a conversation between a mother and her little son in the event of an Independence day celebration. The child wanted to know more about Nigeria and he asked his mum as any other child would do. The mother was very obviously dumbfounded for a few seconds. She struggled to collect herself and when she finally did, she responded with the stereotyped, “what would you like to know?”

While it’s sad to think of how the lady couldn’t come up with a better response than a question, the billion-dollar question still remains; what would you have done if you were in her shoes? How much do you know about the giant of Africa? Is your knowledge about Nigeria enough to satisfy a child’s curiosity?

No? Don’t be dismayed. Like you, I also think I would stutter a little if asked to talk about Nigeria, a great nation with great people from diverse cultures. This is why I decided to compile some really cool facts about Nigeria to reel out to your kids and others who wish to know.

Interesting facts about Nigeria:

Nigeria is believed to get her name from the River Niger that flows through the country. However, history suggests that English journalist Flora Shaw came up with the name in an article she wrote in 1897.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa.
Nigeria was under the British colony until 1960 when she gained Independence. On 1st October every year, she celebrates her independence.
There is a small village called Igbo-Ora in Nigeria known as the twin village due to the high incidence of twin births.
Nigeria is home to 7% of the total languages spoken on earth.
Nigeria is a multiethnic country with over 500 spoken languages. This makes sense when you understand that Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups.
Nigeria’s movie industry, Nollywood is the second largest in the world, next to India’s Bollywood. It is even bigger than Hollywood.
The wealthiest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, worth about 12 billion dollars, is a Nigerian.
Nigeria is a member of the British Commonwealth and the African Union.
An estimated 75% of the Nigerian populace uses social media regularly
Nigeria is a massive producer and exporter of crude oil. This has helped her economy enormously.
Nigeria has a very low life expectancy (55.2 years) and a high mortality rate. The reason for this is poverty.
The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi. It is also known as the plateau of death.
Nigeria was the first African country to win a gold medal for football in the Olympics.
The famous Chevrolet Volt car was designed by a Nigerian named Jelani Aliyu.
Philip Emeagwali, a Nigerian, designed the world’s fastest supercomputer.
Famous Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian.
The walls of Benin in Edo state, are the largest artificial structure on earth.
The Jos Plateau Indigobird is a specie of bird that is only found in Plateau state in Nigeria.
The Anambra waxbill is a bird specie that is only found in Southern Nigeria; it can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Nigeria is home to about 4,715 plant species, making it the most ecologically vibrant place on the planet.
Nigeria’s mangrove forests are the largest in Africa and third in the world.
The Niger Delta in Nigeria is the third largest delta in the world.
In the United States, Nigerians constitute the most educated immigrant community. About 60% of Nigerians in the U.S are educated. This is far above America’s national average of 30%.
Nigeria has one of the largest river systems in the world.