Did You Know
Did You Know
Explore Hidden Facts About Nigeria
169
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established by the signing of a treaty in Lagos on May 28, 1975.
170
Ovonramwen Nogbaisi was the last Oba of the Benin Empire. He ruled until 1897 when the British forced him into exile in Calabar, Cross River State.
171
The first recorded international competition Nigeria participated in was a cricket match against the Gold Coast (now Ghana) in 1904.
172
At independence in 1960, Nigeria had a population of 36 million people.
173
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.
174
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.
175
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.
176
Fatou Bensouda, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University.
177
The Benin City Walls are the world’s largest ancient earthworks. Built to protect the city and Oba and completed in the late 15th century, its moats and ramparts originally ran over 16,000 kilometres in length and reached a height of 18 metres.
178
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano is the oldest in Nigeria. Operations began there in 1936.
179
Chinua Achebe almost lost the manuscript for Things Fall Apart - he sent it to a London company offering typing services and did not hear back for several months until Angela Beattie (his boss at the Nigerian Broadcasting Service) went to their offices an
180
The board game ayo is one of a family of board games played across the world called Mancala. The game is believed to have originated in Ethiopia.
181
Rashidi Yekini scored Nigeria's first World Cup goal during a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria at USA 1994.
182
Eweka, the first Oba of the Benin Kingdom of present-day Edo State, was the son of the ooni (or ruler) of the Ife.
183
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.
184
Ruins of the Oyo Empire can be seen in the Old Oyo National Park.
185
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.
186
The city of Ife in Osun State is considered the spiritual home of the Yoruba people.
187
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.
188
Scottish missionary Mary Slessor, famous for her work in Calabar, Cross River State, served as vice-president of the Ikot Obong native court.
189
The first Nigerian speaker of the Nigerian parliament prior to independence was Jaja Wachuku, an Ngwa royal prince and lawyer.
190
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).
191
Nsibidi, an ancient form of writing, originated in south-eastern Nigeria over 1000 years ago. It was specifically reserved for initiations into mystical societies.
192
Paul McCartney of the Beatles recorded his solo album Band on the Run at a music studio on Wharf Road in Apapa, Lagos.
