» » How well do you know Nigeria (Part 1)

  • How well do you know Nigeria (Part 1)


    Do you know the historical facts about the country Nigeria and its great People? Here we offer brief information that you will find amazingly awesome. So sit back and relax as we take you on a ride on historical facts about Nigeria...

    1. In Lagos in 1865 one bag of 20,000 cowry shells was exchanged for one or two English Pounds.
    2. Disney owns the film rights to Amos Tutuola's The Palm-Wine Drinkard.
    3. Nnamdi Azikiwe gave a speech calling for the independence of Africa nations in Washington, DC in December 1949 - the speech can be read here.
    4. Nigerian author Ben Okri was just 17 when his first book was published.
    5. The Church of Nigeria has the second highest membership of the churches within the worldwide Anglican Communion. It has a community of over 18 million baptized worshippers.
    6. Two Nigerians – Ben Enwonwu and Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy – have painted official portraits of Queen Elizabeth II.
    7. Alhaji Sir Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s only Prime Minister, was also a published author. His novella Shaihu Umar (1955), a story of slavery, was very popular in Nigeria. It was also adapted for stage twenty years later.
    8. Nigeria has 774 local government areas. Learn more about Nigeria's states in our Geography section.
    9. Charles Dickens was a major influence on Chinua Achebe’s work. Find more facts about Achebe here.
    10. Joseph Yobo is the Super Eagle with the most caps (95).
    11. Oil first discovered in commercial quantities in Nigeria at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State in 1956.
    12. Nigeria was one of 15 African nations to boycott the 1966 World Cup. The boycott took place to protest FIFA’s allocation of one final spot to three continents (Africa, Asia and Oceania).
    13. The Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar, Cross River State, is the oldest secondary school in Nigeria. It was established in 1895
    14. The Gashaka-Gumti National Park (which lies in Adamawa and Taraba states) contains a fort built by German soldiers during World War One.
    15. The image of two Fulani girls on the back of the N10 note was taken by renowned photographer John Hinde.
    16. Zungeru in Niger State was the capital of Northern Nigeria from 1902 to 1916, as well as the birthplace of Nnamdi Azikiwe.
    17. The mask used as the logo for FESTAC 77 was inspired by Queen Idia, mother of Esigie, the Oba of Benin who ruled from 1504 to 1550.
    18. Stephen Keshi spent 14 years as captain of the Super Eagles, the longest term served by any player.
    19. Google Translate now features functionality in the three main Nigerian languages.
    20. Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo have a combined total of 88 million speakers.
    21. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is on the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation.
    22. Kumbwada in Kano has always been ruled by a woman. Its present ruler is Queen Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed.
    23. The Dufuna Canoe, discovered around the River Yobe in 1987, is approximately 8000 years old.
    24. Usman dan Fodio (1754-1817) was an Islamic scholar, philosopher and theologian who wrote over 100 books.
    25. The Niger Delta (which is the second largest delta on the planet), has the highest concentration of monotypic fish families in the world.
    26. In 1979, His Royal Majesty, Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi 1, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom in Delta State of Nigeria became the world’s youngest crowned head. He was only 28 months old at the time of his coronation.
    27. “Arise, O Compatriots,” Nigeria’s national anthem, was the outcome of a writing competition in 1978. The lyrics were culled from the top five entries.
    28. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua was the youngest African to be made a Major General at the age of 36.
    29. The Super Falcons have won the African Women's Championship eight times out of ten.
    30. Freedom Park on Lagos Island was once the site of a prison.
    31. Legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti briefly worked as a radio producer for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).
    32. Independence Building in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, was designed to be the tallest building in Nigeria at the time of the country’s independence.
    33. Nojim Maiyegun was the first Nigerian to win an Olympic medal. He won the bronze medal in the men’s boxing Light Middleweight category at the 1964 Games in Tokyo.
    34. More people speak Hausa as a first language than any other sub-Saharan African language.
    35. The Makoko Floating School in Lagos has been nominated for a Designs of the Year 2014
    36. The plays of renowned Nigerian thespian Hubert Ogunde were inspired by the Alarinjo (or masked travelling minstrels) of the old Oyo Empire.
    37. Nigeria's original three regions (North, East, and West) were formally established by the Richards Constitution of 1946.
    38. Edward James Roye, the fifth president of Liberia, was of Igbo descent.
    39. The oldest African artifacts created by the lost-wax casting method were found in Igbo-Ukwu, Anambra State.
    40. Calabar in Cross River State was an international shipping port as far back as the sixteenth century.
    41. The Sokoto Caliphate at its height encompassed over 30 Hausa kingdoms.
    42. The construction of the famous Kainji Dam in Niger State took 4 years to complete.
    43. Cyprian Ekwensi’s book The Drummer Boy was based on a real-life figure called Benjamin ‘Kokoro’ Aderounmu. He was a well-known blind minstrel from Lagos.
    44. The full title of the current Oba of Benin is “His Royal Highness Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I”.
    45. Nigeria’s federal government first introduced universal primary education (making primary education free and compulsory) in 1976.
    46. The Nsibidi script originated amongst the the Ejagham people of Cross River State (who call it Nsibiri).
    47. The Nigerian football team are the current champions of the Nelson Mandela Challenge.
    48. Carter Bridge (which connects Lagos Island to the mainland) was built in 1901.
    49. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach the Nigerian coast.
    50. Nnamdi Azikiwe served as Chancellor of the University of Lagos from 1972 until 1978.
    51. Tinubu Square (formerly known as Independence Square) in Lagos was built as a gift from the state’s Lebanese community.
    52. Akintola Williams was Nigeria’s first Chartered Accountant.
    53. Emmanuel Okala was the first Nigerian to win the title of African footballer of the year? Okala received the award in 1978 while serving as goalkeeper for the Super Eagles.
    54. Francis Akanu Ibiam was the first Nigerian governor of the former Eastern Region. He held the position from 1960 until 1966.
    55. The oldest evidence of habitation at the site of Ife, Osun State dates back to as early as 600BCE.
    56. The wearing of agbada (or riga) in Nigeria and other West African states dates back to the 16th century.
    57. The Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State is the highest mountain range in Nigeria.
    58. The Bantu migration - a massive migration of people across Africa about 2,000 years ago - is believed to have begun in southeast Nigeria.
    59. The Niger Bridge (which connects Asaba in Delta State to Onitsha in Anambra State) takes over 100,000 vehicles a day during the peak holiday travel season.
    60. Ladi Kwali is the first and only Nigerian woman to appear on a currency note. She is depicted on the back of the N20 note.
    61. Stephen Keshi is currently the highest ranked African football coach according to the Institute of Football Coaching Statistics.
    62. Nigerian-American basketball player Chinenye Ogwumike was the first pick in the 2014 WNBA draft. Her older sister Nneka was also the first pick in 2012, making them the only siblings aside from the Manning brothers to achieve this feat in American sport history.
    63. Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart has been translated into over 50 languages.
    64. Amos Tutuola's books (such as The Palm-Wine Drinkard) were influenced by the works of Yoruba-language writer DO Fagunwa.
    65. Sokoto leather (also known as morocco leather) is considered the finest in the world.
    66. Yoruba has over 50 million speakers worldwide.
    67. Ahmadu Bello was the great-great-grandson of Usman dan Fodio, founder of the Sokoto
    68. Blessing Okagbare of Delta State is currently Africa’s women’s 200m outdoor champion.
    69. Until 1978, Nigeria’s national motto was “Peace, Unity, Freedom”.
    70. As far back as World War II, Lagos-based radio stations were broadcasting the news in pidgin English.
    71. In the 1960s and 70s, the Nigerian government funded bookmobiles which connected readers in rural communities to books and library resources.
    72. The talking drum (one of the oldest instruments from West Africa) is called 'dundun' by the Yoruba and 'kalangu' by the Hausa.
    73. Tropical Africa's first skyscraper was built by Obafemi Awolowo. Cocoa House is located in Ibadan, Oyo State.
    74. Nigeria accounts for 70-76% of the world’s yam production.
    75. Kenneth Dike was the first Nigerian Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
    76. The Songhai Empire, one of the largest Islamic empires, encompassed parts of Northern Nigeria.
    77. Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu's art was first exhibited in London when he was just a teenager.
    78. Nigerian staple food cassava was brought to West Africa from Brazil by the Portuguese.
    79. A 3-day ceasefire was declared during the Nigerian Civil War in 1969 so that Brazilian football legend Pele could play exhibition matches in the country.
    80. Nigerian football coach Stephen Keshi's parents did not want him to play football as a child. They found out he had gone behind their backs when they saw him playing for the Nigerian youth team on television.
    81. Nigerian-American basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
    82. Nigeria's first president Nnamdi Azikiwe spoke Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo (the three major Nigerian languages).
    83. Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu was the first professor of fine arts at Obafemi Awolowo University.
    84. In 1979 former president Olusegun Obasanjo nationalised British Petroleum's holdings in Nigeria in protest at the British government's links with Rhodesia's (now Zimbabwe) white-minority regime.
    85. Until 1904, cowry shells were used as currency in Nigeria.
    86. Teslim Balogun was the first Nigerian footballer to be signed by a foreign club. He was signed by Petersborough United following the national team’s tour of England in 1949.
    87. William Akinola Dawodu was the first Nigerian to import cars into the country. His business started in 1905 with a mechanic workshop, and he eventually became the sole agent for Firestone Tyres, Dodge, Charlotte and Reo Motors.
    88. Rashidi Yekini scored Nigeria's first World Cup goal during a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria at USA 1994.
    89. The Gwari people of Northern Nigeria believe that the head is sacred, and therefore do not carry loads on their heads. Items are carried on the back of the neck.
    90. Ruins of the Oyo Empire can be seen in the Old Oyo National Park.
    91. Nigerian high jumper and soldier Emmanuel Ifeajuna was the first black African to win a gold medal at a sporting event. He came first at the 1954 Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.
    92. Eweka, the first Oba of the Benin Kingdom of present-day Edo State, was the son of the ooni (or ruler) of the Ife.
    93. The city of Ife in Osun State is considered the spiritual home of the Yoruba people.
    94. There is a town in Jamaica called Abeokuta. It was founded by former slaves from present-day Ogun State who were brought to a plantation in that part of Jamaica.
    95. Scottish missionary Mary Slessor, famous for her work in Calabar, Cross River State, served as vice-president of the Ikot Obong native court.
    96. Paul McCartney of the Beatles recorded his solo album Band on the Run at a music studio on Wharf Road in Apapa, Lagos
    97. The first Nigerian speaker of the Nigerian parliament prior to independence was Jaja Wachuku, an Ngwa royal prince and lawyer.
    98. Nigeria’s leaders considered renaming the country after the West African empire of Songhai after independence (Ghana and Mali, known the Gold Coast and French Sudan during the colonial era, were also named after West African empires).
    99. Nsibidi, an ancient form of writing, originated in south-eastern Nigeria over 1000 years ago. It was specifically reserved for initiations into mystical societies.
    100. Lokoja is a former capital of the then Northern Nigeria, It was the the administrative City of Lord Lugard and Lady Flora Shaw who later rename "Niger Area" to Nigeria
    Source: ZODML

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