Nigeria

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, often referred to as Nigeria and better known as Naija to the high-spirited and youthful populace of the country is a federal republic in West Africa, bordered by Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the southeast, and Benin in the west. Its coast in the south is located on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.

The federation comprises thirty-six states and Abuja the Federal Capital. According to archaeological evidence, Nigeria has a history of human existence that . dates as far back as 9000BC. The earliest known Iron Age civilization in Nigeria is the Nok, who lived in northern and central Nigeria between about 1000 B.C. and 300 A.D. Nigeria has been blessed with ancient and indigenous kingdoms over the millennia. We had the Benin Empire, Kanem Bornu Empire, Kingdom of Nri and the Yoruba Empires. We are inspired by their exploits and feats which ignites in us the Nigerian spirit that we are so proud of today.

With a population of 180 million people, we are the most populated country in Africa and 7^th most populated country in the world with more than ninety percent of the population under eighteen. Our people are highly creative, resilient, maintaining humour, hope and faith in all situations.

Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups and tribes with three dominant tribes: Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba accounting for over seventy percent of the population. The beauty of our multiethnicity can be seen and felt at every turn, with the easy migration opportunities available, you can easily be in a room of over 10 tribes amongst 50 people in some parts of the country. Our rich diversity ensures exposure to extraordinary cultural norms, food dishes and languages. The official language is English and of course the unofficial lingua franca is Pidgin English.

Nigeria is a mixed economy emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, transport sectors and stock exchange (the Nigerian Stock Exchange), which is the second largest in Africa.

Nigeria is home to Christians, Muslims and other indigenous religions mainly associated with Igbo and Yoruba tribes. Within these tribes, we have the mighty God knows as Chukwu and Oluorun ‘King of the heavens’ and demi- gods: Amadioha, Ala, Obatala, Ogun, Sango, Osun, Oya to mention a few. The demi – gods in most cases have specifics portfolios and distinct personalities to match.

It should be no wonder that Sango, the god of thunder is famously renowned for his fiery spirit. Quite interesting is the advanced thinking behind the supreme God and his delegates, handling different parts of creation and the created. The demi-gods were females and males, representing an egalitarian spiritual world. This can be further seen in the traditional system of government within the tribes where men and women both held significant positions.

Nigeria has a varied landscape; seacoast in the south, mangrove swamps in the Niger Delta, a band of tropical rainforest and then Savanna and drier Sahel grasslands in the north. Along with the landscape, the climate varies: from wet and tropical along the coast to more arid conditions in the Sahel, where a three- to four-month rainy season is followed by hot and dry temperatures.

Touching on the beauty in the land, Nigeria has the largest habitat of diversified butterfly in the world and a host of breath-taking destinations. From the Zuma rock in Abuja with its natural contours imitating the image of a human face with a visible mouth, eyes, and nose to the Idanre Hills in Ondo to the cloud kissing mountains in Obudu to the waterfalls scattered around the country, Nigeria is a tourist’s delight.

The level of professionalism and development that has gone into the entertainment industry single handedly built by the collective stars of the music and the theatre is beyond accolades. We are immensely proud of their writings in the sands of time and their unceasing elevation of the Nigerian story locally and globally. We cannot get enough of their awesomeness on our screens and on the world stage.

You are welcomed on this journey as we celebrate our history, people, culture, achievements and environment. You will be refreshed and pleased to be a citizen of our great nation Nigeria. Select elements of the Nigerian story has been touched on and will be delved into in fuller detail as we go along on this exciting journey. There is a lot to be proud of about Nigeria and our people.

We will tell our own stories!!!