Welcome to Nigeria, a multicultural country in Africa

Hakeem Olajuwon

Did you know- Nigerian-born Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is the “second best player in the world,” in the words of former US Men’s National Team coach George Karl. Like Sade (singer) and Wole Soyinka (1986 Nobel Laureate), Olajuwon is an idol in Nigeria. He once said, “I don’t like it when TV only shows the bad things and then says, ‘This Lagos’ (the old capital of Nigeria). There are bad things, sure, but in Lagos we have designer clothes, big buildings, videos . , and a lot of other things that people enjoy in America. TV doesn’t show that, and I get tired of trying to explain it.”

Geography

did you know– The modern country of Nigeria, once the seat of an ancient kingdom, is located on the southern coast of West Africa. This former British colony is bordered by Benin (known as Dahomey until 1972) to the west, Niger (former French colony) to the north, Chad (former French colony) and Cameroon (former French and British territory) to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. . It is an African country of considerable contrasts: it is home to mangroves, plateaus, semi-deserts and tropical forests. Abuja is the capital of Nigeria, but Lagos, the former capital, is the largest city.

independence

Did you know- On October 1, 1960, Nigeria, after a 102-year European occupation, became an independent country within the British Commonwealth.

Nigerian and United States

Did you know- Abuja and Washington have maintained excellent diplomatic ties. In this context, US leader Jimmy Carter visited the African country in 1978. Later, on August 24, 2000, Lagos received a visit from Bill Clinton.

Population

Did you know- The English-speaking country is the tenth largest country in population in the world, with 154 million people. About 50 percent of the population is Muslim. At least 1.5 million Nigerians live abroad, 70% of them in Western Europe

Democracy

Did you know- The 38 years of military rule ended in 1998 when Olusegun Obasanjo won the country’s first free elections. In the years that followed, Nigeria, an oil-rich country, became a democratic state.

United Nations

Did you know- After independence, on October 7, 1960, the country joined the United Nations. After 1960, he was one of the leaders against apartheid on Earth.

International Awards

Did you know- In late 1986, Wole Soyinka became the first black author to win a Nobel Prize for Africa. In fact, Mr. Soyinka was one of the best-known novelists in sub-Saharan Africa in the second half of the last century. In addition to his career as a novelist, he was a leading advocate for democracy and human rights on the African continent in the 1970s and 1980s.

Football

Did you know- The 1999 FIFA U-20 World Cup was held in Nigeria, an event that was the envy of the rest of the world. In fact, this is the biggest football tournament held in Nigeria.

Tourism

Did you know- From a cultural perspective, Nigeria is a remarkable place with more than 100 ethnic groups. Apart from that, the English-speaking country is interesting in terms of its biodiversity: there are many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries; lions, elephants, wild birds and reptiles populated these national parks. In addition, its capital, Abuja, is one of the most modern cities in sub-Saharan Africa. Music is also one of the main activities of the nation, birthplace of Sade, one of the most successful singers in the world. Finally, it also has spectacular architectural sites: the sacred grove of Osun-Sogbo, a World Heritage Site, is one of the most visited scenic spots in Nigeria.

famous visitors

Did you know- In the early 1980s, Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria.

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