Nigeria: 10 Facts You Might Not Know Yet About African Giant

If you put the vertical bands of green, white, and green together, you get the flag of Nigeria—the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most populated country in the world, with over 213 million people. It symbolizes natural wealth and peace. People immediately imagine a big city filled with people and noise when they hear of Nigeria.

However, these first impressions do not justify the beauty of this country and the resilience of its people. We have compiled ten interesting facts about Nigeria to appreciate this country more. Hopefully, this will pique your interest to find out more and even perhaps visit the beautiful country of Nigeria and experience firsthand what it has to offer to the world.

10 Facts About Nigeria You Are Not Aware Of

1. Over 500 indigenous languages are spoken in Nigeria
2. More than 250 ethnic groups are found in Nigeria
3. Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city, but not it is capital
4. Nigeria is the largest producer of oil and gas in Africa
5. You can only find an Anambra Waxbill bird in Southern Nigeria
6. Nigeria is one of the world’s largest diversity of butterflies
7. A Nigerian was the first African to receive a Novel Prize for Literature
8. Nigeria is home to Africa’s oldest dye pit
9. Nollywood is bigger than Hollywood
10. It is customary here to not look into someone’s eyes

#1 Over 500 indigenous languages are spoken in Nigeria

Nigeria recognizes English as its official language. However, people living in rural areas and those with lower levels of education widely use Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Fulfulde, Ibibio, Kanuri, and Tiv languages, as well as Nigerian, Hausa, and Bura sign languages. Apart from these, Nigeria has over 500 other indigenous languages, which distinguish its ethnic groups.

#2 More than 250 ethnic groups are found in Nigeria

Nigeria boasts over 250 ethnic groups, making it the most diverse country in Africa. The country distinctly varies in ethnicity, language, culture, and religion. The Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo represent the largest of these groups.

The dominant ethnic groups in the country initiate political supremacy competition towards one another, which has contributed to civil strife. This ethnic diversity fuels the competition.

#3 Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city, but not its capital

Many foreigners do not know this but Lagos is not the capital of Nigeria. Nigeria used to have Lagos as its capital, and currently, it has a population of over 14 million, making it the country’s largest city. The financial centre and economic hub of Lagos State and Nigeria are among the factors that contribute to its population growth. The Nigerian government replaced Lagos with Abuja as the capital in December 1991.

#4 Nigeria is the largest producer of oil and gas in Africa

In the 1970s, Nigeria earned the highest oil profit, which made it the wealthiest country in Africa. Nigeria possesses passive reserves of natural gas, oil, and petroleum, and produces an average of 2.5 million barrels of crude oil every day. These products are driving the strong growth of the Nigerian economy, and experts project that Nigeria will become one of the world’s top 10 economies by 2050.

#5 You can only find an Anambra Waxbill bird in Southern Nigeria

The Anambra waxbill, which is approximately 12 centimetres long, inhabits only Southern Nigeria and belongs to the estrildid finch species. It forms flocks of up to 20 birds or more.

These birds commonly inhabit long grasses along bodies of water, such as lagoon sandbanks, marshes, swamps, and rivers. They typically feed on grass seeds from seed heads. Reported sightings of this bird in Nigeria have only been around five.

#6 Nigeria is one of the world’s largest diversity of butterflies

Nigeria’s flora and fauna abundance is contributed by its biodiversity. Butterflies are one of the insects that you can enjoy seeing in Nigeria. Currently, the country documents more than 1000 butterfly species, and it will not stop there because researchers are still discovering new butterfly species here.

#7 Nigeria is home to Africa’s oldest dye pit

The Kofar Mata Dye Pits in Kano, Nigeria founded in 1498, are the oldest and last dye pits in Africa. During its heyday, about 270 dye pits produced the indigo-dyed cotton fabric at this place. The dyeing technique, which remains unchanged for centuries, passes from one generation to another at the Kofar Mata dye pit.

Precision and patience are necessary to make the various patterns in this indigo fabric. The influx of cheaper foreign fabric in the Nigerian market is causing the business of dyeing fabric to dwindle. To help preserve this dying dye practice, one should try to buy their fabrics when visiting Nigeria.

#8 A Nigerian was the first African to receive a Novel Prize for Literature

Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka, a Nigerian playwright and political activist, received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986, becoming the first African to receive the award.

His works, including A Dance of the Forests, The Lion and the Jewel, The Road, King Baabu, The Beatification of Area Boy, A Shuttle in the Crypt, Samarkand and Other Markets I Have Known, and Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth, have made Wole Soyinka famous worldwide.

#9 Nollywood is bigger than Hollywood

Nollywood, or the Nigerian movie industry, produces 200 movies each week, or 10,000 movies each year, which puts it second only to India’s Bollywood in terms of film production.

You should watch some of the highest-grossing Nollywood movies, including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, The Wedding Party 1 and 2, Chief Daddy, Sugar Rush King of Boys, Gangs of Lagos and others.

#10 It is customary here to not look into someone’s eyes

For Westerners, looking directly at someone’s eyes shows respect and personal interest.

However, in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, people do not customarily look directly into someone’s eyes. They consider it an aggressive posture, especially if a younger person faces someone much older or their superior.

Nigeria’s natural resources, people, culture, food, and arts all contribute to its beauty, making it a special place. If you plan on visiting Nigeria or any other country, be sure to take advantage of RemitBee’s currency exchange services to maximize your money. We offer the best currency rates.