Did You Know
Did You Know
Explore Hidden Facts About Nigeria
241
The oldest evidence of habitation at the site of Ife, Osun State dates back to as early as 600BCE.
242
The wearing of agbada (or riga) in Nigeria and other West African states dates back to the 16th century.
243
The Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State is the highest mountain range in Nigeria.
244
The Bantu migration - a massive migration of people across Africa about 2,000 years ago - is believed to have begun in southeast Nigeria.
245
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.
246
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.
247
Stephen Keshi is currently the highest ranked African football coach according to the Institute of Football Coaching Statistics.
248
The image of two Fulani girls on the back of the N10 note was taken by renowned photographer John Hinde.
249
The Gashaka-Gumti National Park (which lies in Adamawa and Taraba states) contains a fort built by German soldiers during World War One.
250
The Hope Waddell Training Institution in Calabar, Cross River State, is the oldest secondary school in Nigeria. It was established in 1895
251
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).
252
Oil first discovered in commercial quantities in Nigeria at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State in 1956.
253
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.
254
Two Nigerians – Ben Enwonwu and Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy – have painted official portraits of Queen Elizabeth II.
255
Kumbwada in Kano has always been ruled by a woman. Its present ruler is Queen Hajiya Haidzatu Ahmed.
256
The Dufuna Canoe, discovered around the River Yobe in 1987, is approximately 8000 years old.
257
Usman dan Fodio (1754-1817) was an Islamic scholar, philosopher and theologian who wrote over 100 books.
258
The Niger Delta (which is the second largest delta on the planet), has the highest concentration of monotypic fish families in the world.
259
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.
260
“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.
261
Shehu Musa Yar’Adua was the youngest African to be made a Major General at the age of 36.
262
The Super Falcons have won the African Women's Championship eight times out of ten.
263
Freedom Park on Lagos Island was once the site of a prison.
264
Legendary Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti briefly worked as a radio producer for the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).
