Did You Know
Did You Know
Explore Hidden Facts About Nigeria
145
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Nigeria (in 1472).
146
Nigeria’s national anthem from 1960 to 1978 was “Nigeria, We Hail Thee”.
147
Chappal Waddi, a mountain located in Gashaka Forest Reserve in Taraba State, is the highest point of elevation in Nigeria at 2,419 metres.
148
The University of Ibadan, the oldest university in Nigeria, traces its origins to Yaba College (which was established in 1932).
149
The first black woman to receive an undergraduate degree from Oxford University was Nigerian educationist and writer Lady Kofo Ademola.
150
The oldest known boat on the African continent was found in Nigeria. The Dufuna Canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in May 1987 in the region of the Yobe River.
151
Niger State is the largest in Nigeria with a land mass of 76,363 square kilometres.
152
The first black woman to receive an undergraduate degree from Oxford University was Nigerian educationist and writer Lady Kofo Ademola.
153
The oldest known boat on the African continent was found in Nigeria. The Dufuna Canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in May 1987 in the region of the Yobe River.
154
Nigerians have won the Caine Prize for African Writing more times than writers from any other country. Past winners include Rotimi Babatunde (2012), EC Osundu (2009), SA Afolabi (2005) and Helon Habila (2001).
155
The name Lagos is the Portuguese term for "lakes".
156
The popular Nigerian snack akara is also eaten in Brazil (where it goes by the name acarajé).
157
Queen Elizabeth II remained Nigeria’s official head of state until the First Republic was declared in 1963.
158
The Nigerian Declaration of Independence was signed at the Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
159
At independence in 1960, Nigeria had a population of 36 million people.
160
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.
161
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.
162
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.
163
Fatou Bensouda, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University.
164
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.
165
Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka were first cousins.
166
Chinua Achebe has been the recipient of over thirty honorary doctorate degrees.
167
The central parts of Abuja were designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange.
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There are also large communities of Yoruba people living in Togo and the Republic of Benin.