Did You Know
Did You Know
Explore Hidden Facts About Nigeria
97
The Memorial Gates at London’s Hyde Park Corner (which commemorate soldiers from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Caribbean who fought for Britain in the two World Wars) feature a quote from Nigerian author Ben Okri. It reads: "Our Future is Great
98
Nigerian juju musician IK Dairo was the first and only African musician to be conferred the title of a Member of the Most Excellent Order of British Empire (MBE).
99
Radio Kaduna is believed to have the largest listenership of all of sub-Saharan Africa’s radio stations.
100
Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos is the longest bridge in West Africa. It measures approximately 11.8 kilometres.
101
Jagua Nana, Cyprian Ekwensi’s beloved novel, is also the name of a song by Orlando Julius.
102
The National Museum in Jos, Plateau State was the first public museum in Nigeria. It was set up by Bernard Fagg, a British historian who also first discovered the Nok terracotta sculptures.
103
Nigeria’s first female ministers, Janet Akinrinade and Adenike Ebun Oyagbola, were appointed in 1979.
104
The coctus spectabilis is the floral emblem of Nigeria. It is the flower featured on the country’s coat of arms, although in nature it is normally yellow in colour rather than red.
105
Nigeria is home to seven national parks: the largest – Gashaka-Gumti – is located in Adamawa and Taraba states.
106
Flora Nwapa was the first African woman to be published internationally in English with her novel Efuru (1966).
107
The first set of octuplets on record was born on December 20, 1998 in Houston, Texas to a Nigerian couple.
108
Until 1973, the Nigerian currency was the pound.
109
Nigeria unveiled what is believed to be the world's longest wrapper at the Abuja Carnival in November 2006. It measured 57 yards.
110
The number of vehicles in Nigeria went from 1.2 million in 1975 to approximately 8 million by 2003.
111
Until his death, the renowned artist Twins Seven was a UNESCO Artist for Peace.
112
Ebun House, located at 85 Odunfa Street, was the first three-story building built in Lagos. It was constructed in 1914.
113
In 1974, Ayodele Awojobi became the first African to earn a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from Imperal College, London.
114
The oldest rock painting in Nigeria is the Birnin-Kudu Rock Painting in Jigawa State.
115
Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was the first Nigerian woman to hold the positions of Finance Minister and Foreign Minister.
116
Stephen Keshi is one of two men (the other being Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary) to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach.
117
Grace Alele-Williams was the first Nigerian woman to earn a doctorate. She earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Chicago in 1963.
118
Actor Hugo Weaving (known for his roles in The Matrix trilogy and V for Vendetta) was born in Nigeria?
119
The first faculty of law set up in Nigeria was the Sapara Williams College of Law of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It was established in 1961.
120
Augustus Akhabue Aikhomu, who served as the de facto Vice President during the military regime of General Babangida, was responsible for giving the Nigerian football team the nickname "The Super Eagles".