Did You Know
Did You Know
Explore Hidden Facts About Nigeria
145
The naira, Nigeria’s currency, was named by Obafemi Awolowo.
146
The area surrounding Calabar (the capital of Cross River State) is believed to contain the world's largest diversity of butterflies.
147
The first black woman to receive an undergraduate degree from Oxford University was Nigerian educationist and writer Lady Kofo Ademola.
148
The oldest known boat on the African continent was found in Nigeria. The Dufuna Canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in May 1987 in the region of the Yobe River.
149
Nigerians have won the Caine Prize for African Writing more times than writers from any other country. Past winners include Rotimi Babatunde (2012), EC Osundu (2009), SA Afolabi (2005) and Helon Habila (2001).
150
The name Lagos is the Portuguese term for "lakes".
151
The popular Nigerian snack akara is also eaten in Brazil (where it goes by the name acarajé).
152
Fatou Bensouda, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University.
153
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.
154
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.
155
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.
156
At independence in 1960, Nigeria had a population of 36 million people.
157
Niger State is the largest in Nigeria with a land mass of 76,363 square kilometres.
158
The oldest known boat on the African continent was found in Nigeria. The Dufuna Canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in May 1987 in the region of the Yobe River.
159
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Nigeria (in 1472).
160
After Nigeria, Brazil has the second largest population of black people of any country.
161
There are also large communities of Yoruba people living in Togo and the Republic of Benin.
162
The central parts of Abuja were designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange.
163
Chinua Achebe has been the recipient of over thirty honorary doctorate degrees.
164
Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka were first cousins.
165
Nigeria’s national anthem from 1960 to 1978 was “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”.
166
Chappal Waddi, a mountain located in Gashaka Forest Reserve in Taraba State, is the highest point of elevation in Nigeria at 2,419 metres.
167
The University of Ibadan, the oldest university in Nigeria, traces its origins to Yaba College (which was established in 1932).
168
The first black woman to receive an undergraduate degree from Oxford University was Nigerian educationist and writer Lady Kofo Ademola.
