Did You Know

In 1974, Ayodele Awojobi became the first African to earn a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Imperal College, London.

Until his death, the renowned artist Twins Seven was a UNESCO Artist for Peace.

Nigeria unveiled what is believed to be the world's longest wrapper at the Abuja Carnival in November 2006. It measured 57 yards.

January 20 is the feast day of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, a noted Catholic priest of Igbo descent.

The coctus spectabilis is the floral emblem of Nigeria. It is the flower featured on the country’s coat of arms, although in nature it is normally yellow in colour rather than red.

Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is the longest bridge in West Africa. It measures approximately 11.8 kilometres.

The first African to be president of the International Court of Justice was Taslim Elias, a Nigerian.

The first faculty of law set up in Nigeria was the Sapara Williams College of Law of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It was established in 1961.

The oldest rock painting in Nigeria is the Birnin-Kudu Rock Painting in Jigawa State.

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was the first Nigerian woman to hold the positions of Finance Minister and Foreign Minister.

Stephen Keshi is one of two men (the other being Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary) to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.

Grace Alele-Williams was the first Nigerian woman to earn a doctorate. She earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Chicago in 1963.

Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu, who served as the de facto Vice President during the military regime of General Babangida, was responsible for giving the Nigerian football team the nickname "The Super Eagles".

Actor Hugo Weaving (known for his roles in The Matrix trilogy and V for Vendetta) was born in Nigeria?

On February 22, 2013 Dr Bello became the first Nollywood movie to be released in US cinemas.

The Memorial Gates at London’s Hyde Park Corner (which commemorate soldiers from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Caribbean who fought for Britain in the two World Wars) feature a quote from Nigerian author Ben Okri. It reads: "Our Future is Great

Jagua Nana, Cyprian Ekwensi’s beloved novel, is also the name of a song by Orlando Julius.

Queen Elizabeth II remained Nigeria’s official head of state until the First Republic was declared in 1963.

The Nigerian Declaration of Independence was signed at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

At independence in 1960, Nigeria had a population of 36 million people.

Fuji music has its roots in Islamic traditions: it originated from were/ajisari music, which is performed during Ramadan to wake Muslims up to pray before dawn.

The city of Abeokuta (the capital of Ogun State) was originally set up in 1875 as a refuge from slave hunters from Dahomey (modern day Republic of Benin) and Ibadan.

Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was the first African to lead a UN military operation. He was Force Commander of the UN Operation in Congo during the country’s 1960-1966 Crisis.

Fatou Bensouda, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University.