Nigeria is a beautiful country located on the West Coast of Africa. The country has a diverse geography and climate ranging from arid to humid and cold. Nigeria, popularly called the giant of Africa is home to hundreds of ethnic groups and tribes.
Nigeria is home to almost 200million people. It ranked as the seventh most populated country in the world according to a 2019 report. Nigeria is rich in so many diverse ways. In people, a thriving immigrant population scattered all over the world, diverse natural resources of oil, gold, timber, precious stones, natural gas, limestone and many more. Nigeria also has a rich history of arts and crafts such that, the country is still getting hundreds of looted artifacts returned till date. Nigeria is blessed in so many ways.
To celebrate Nigeria’s 61st anniversary, let’s look at some unusual and fun facts about Nigeria. From cultural to national stories, food, geography and so much more, no matter the state of the country right now, there’s a lot to be thankful for.
Nigeria is a multi-ethnic nation, home to over 520 spoken languages amongst its many tribes. Although the most prominent tribes are Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, Nigeria has over 100 more tribes, each with its own dialect. Tiv, Igala, Egbira, Ikale, Ugep, Kanuri, Nupe, Idoma, Isoko, Berom, Egba, Epe, Awori, Ikwerre,etc. are major tribes in Nigeria. All complete with their dialects, dressings and food.
Nigeria’s Igbo Ora in Oyo State has an unusually high birth rate of twins in the world. A 1970s study by a British gynecologist found that around 50 sets of twins were born out of every 1000 births in the Southwest. Igbo Ora is considered to be exceptional. The town boasts of about 158 sets of twin for every live birth. Igbo Ora is a small town 80 kilometers from Lagos. The town is made up of mostly farmers and traders.
Nigeria is rich in diverse natural resources and minerals. Abundance of resources like crude oil, natural gas, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, gold, bitumen, coal, rock salt, gemstones, talk and kaolin.
Nigeria is home to Lagos, Nigeria’s largest and vibrant city. Lagos is a major African financial center and the economic hub of Nigeria. Lagos is also one of the top ten world’s fastest growing city and the most populous city in Africa.
The Niger Delta, Nigeria’s oil hub has the largest concentration of monotypic fish families in the world. Monotypic fish families have only one species of fish. The Niger Delta also hosts 60 percent of Nigeria’s mangrove forests, the largest in Africa and the third largest in the world.
The Jos Plateau Indigo bird(Vidua Maryae) is endemic to Nigeria. It is found in Jos and restricted to Nigeria. The Jos plateau indigo bird isn’t found anywhere else in the world.
Nigeria is the largest producer of crude oil in West Africa. Crude Oil from the Niger Delta accounts for about 80 percent of Nigeria’s earnings since independence.
There you have it. Have an amazing independence day celebrations with your loved ones and family. Don’t forget to speak positive thoughts and words over Nigeria today. God bless Nigeria.
