13 things you should know about Nigeria

Nigeria was a year older as she turned 53 years on tuesday. But how much do you know about Nigeria?

Below are 13 important facts about Nigeria:


- Nigeria is the 32nd-largest country in world with a land mass of
923,768 km2 (356,669 sq mi).

- The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi at 2,419 m (7,936 ft) in Taraba state.

- Late Benedict Odiase, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police,
composed the music of the national anthem.

- The words of the national anthem was composed by four Nigerians:
Dr. Omoigui, John Ilechukwu, Eme Etim Akpan, B.A Ogunnaike, and P.O Aderibigbe

- His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Azikwe Jonathan is the first PhD holder
to occupy the position of the president of Nigeria.

- There are 124 universities in Nigeria: 37 federal owned, 37 State
owned and 50 private owned universities.

- The 2006 census puts Nigeria’s population at 140,431,790 million – although there is now an estimate of about 170,000,000 Nigerians.

- The name Nigeria was coined by Flora Shaw, wife of Lord Lugard, a
British colonial administrator.

- Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most
populous country in the world

- On 1 January 1901, Nigeria became a British protectorate, part of the
British Empire.

- On July 6, 1967 a 30- month war begun with a long siege of Biafra and
its isolation from trade and supplies. It ended in January 1970

- Nigerians went through 33 years of military rule (from 1966 until 1999).

-Ever heard of the Ship House? That is the name of Nigeria’s
Defence Headquarters