Fact 1: The Land of Twins
Nigeria boasts the highest rate of twin births in the world. The Yoruba people, in particular, have a rate of 4.4% twin births, around four times higher than the global average. This high occurrence is attributed to the Yoruba's diet, which is high in yams and other kinds of tubers that can increase the probability of multiple births.
Fact 2: The Nollywood Phenomenon
Nigeria’s film industry, known as Nollywood, is second only to Bollywood in terms of films produced each year. The quality of Nollywood films may not be at par with Hollywood, but the number of films being produced is phenomenally high, hitting up to 2000 films in a year. The industry is a significant part of Nigeria's economy, employing millions of people.
Fact 3: Nigeria is Africa's Most Populous
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the 7th most populous in the world, with an estimated population of over 200 million people. Such is the size of the Nigerian populace that one in every seven Africans is a Nigerian.
Fact 4: Home to a Vast Amount of Languages
With over 250 ethnic groups, Nigeria has a vast linguistic diversity. The country recognizes three major languages: Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. However, there are over 500 additional indigenous languages spoken across the nation.
Fact 5: The Longest Bridge in Africa
The Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, Nigeria is the longest bridge in Africa, measuring approximately 11.8 kilometers (approximately 7.3 miles). It connects the largely commercial Lagos Island to the mainland.
Fact 6: Known for Exceptional Literature
Nigeria is the birthplace of many globally-acclaimed authors. The famed novelist Chinua Achebe came from Nigeria, and his book 'Things Fall Apart’ is considered a pioneering work in modern African literature. Another Nigerian, Wole Soyinka, was the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.
Fact 7: Historical Significance in Slavery
Nigeria, specifically Calabar and Badagry, served as a central spot on the West African coast for the slave trade in the 17th century. These historical towns contained “Slave Museums” that provide a haunting insight into the past of selling human lives.
Fact 8: The Speedy City of Kano
Kano, founded over a millennium ago, is the second largest city in Nigeria. It is famous for its indigo-dyed cloth, traditional architecture, busy markets, and unique motor taxis known as 'Achaba' or 'Okada'. Okadas are infamous for their incredible speed, making Kano known as the 'fast city'.
Fact 9: The Monoliths of Ikom
The town of Ikom, in Cross River State, houses the largest group of stone monoliths in sub-Saharan Africa. The Ikom Monoliths are about 350 in number, and the inscriptions on them are implicated to be an early form of writing and visual communication.
Fact 10: The Nigerian Space Dream
Nigeria has its own space satellite. NigeriaSat-1, launched in 2003, was the first African remote sensing satellite. Nigeria isn't stopping there though, with plans on the horizon for sending its first manned mission to space by 2030!
Fact 11: A nation of Football Lovers
Football is a universal passion in Nigeria, and the country has a successful national team known as the Super Eagles. The team has won the African Cup of Nations three times and has been part of the FIFA World Cup six times by the end of 2018.
Fact 12: A History of Ancient Civilizations
The Nok civilization previously inhabited Nigeria from around 500 BC to 200 AD and is regarded for its extremely advanced social system and highly sophisticated terracotta art.
Fact 13: Ancient Death-Prevention Customs
In Nigeria's early history, twins were often killed as they were believed to be evil. The missionary Mary Slessor stopped this practice in the Calabar region in the 19th century.
Fact 14: Nigeria's Role in African Unity
Nigeria is a founding member of the African Union, an organization promoting political, economic and social integration among the 54 states of Africa.
Fact 15: Astonishing Biodiversity
Nigeria has 890 recorded bird species (including the rare Sclater's guinea fowl and Ibadan malimbe), making it one of the most ecologically vibrant places of the world.
Fact 16: Economic Giant
Nigeria, with its abundant natural resources, including petroleum and natural gas, is Africa's richest country and has the largest economy in the continent.
Fact 17: The Capital's Intriguing Move
In 1991, Nigeria moved its capital from Lagos, a coastal city with a high risk of overpopulation, to Abuja, a city located more centrally for better accessibility from all parts of the country.
Fact 18: World's Largest Diversity of Butterfly
The areas surrounding Calabar in the Cross River State are reputed to house the world's largest diversity of butterflies, making it a haven for butterfly lovers.
Fact 19: Home to the Largest Church in Africa
The Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria is the largest church in Africa. Its campground can house over a million people, which is more than the populations of many cities.
Fact 20: Nigeria's Name Origins
The name 'Nigeria' was derived from the River Niger running through the country. It was coined by Flora Shaw, a British journalist who later married Lord Frederick Lugard, a British colonial administrator, in the late 19th century.