Nigeria, West Africa
Nigeria, officially known as the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a vibrant country located in West Africa. It lies between the expansive Sahel to the north and the picturesque Gulf of Guinea to the south, along the Atlantic Ocean. Spanning an area of approximately 356,669 square miles, Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and ranks as the sixth most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 230 million. It shares borders with Niger to the north, Chad to the northeast, Cameroon to the east, and Benin to the west. As a federal republic, Nigeria comprises 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital city, Abuja, is situated. The largest city, Lagos, is among the largest metropolitan areas globally and serves as a dynamic economic and cultural hub in Africa.
Nigeria's rich history is characterized by diverse indigenous pre-colonial states and kingdoms that have flourished since the second millennium BC. The Nok civilization, dating back to around 1500 BC, signifies one of the earliest forms of internal unification. The northern region was home to the Hausa Kingdoms, while the southern region was represented by the Edo Kingdom of Benin and the Igbo Kingdom of Nri in the southeast. To the southwest, the Yoruba Ife Empire eventually evolved into the Oyo Empire. By the early 19th century, the Fula jihads had culminated in the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate.
The modern state of Nigeria emerged from British colonial rule in the 19th century, gaining its current territorial shape with the unification of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and the Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914. The British implemented administrative and legal frameworks that utilized traditional monarchs through a system of indirect rule. Nigeria achieved formal independence as a federation on October 1, 1960. However, the nation faced civil conflict from 1967 to 1970 and endured a series of military dictatorships interspersed with democratically elected governments until stability was restored with the 1999 presidential election, which saw Olusegun Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party take office. Despite these advancements, issues such as electoral fraud and widespread corruption continue to challenge Nigerian politics at various levels.
Nigeria is a true mosaic of cultures, with over 250 ethnic groups speaking around 500 distinct languages. The largest ethnic groups—Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo—encompass more than 60% of the total population. English is the official language, selected to promote national linguistic unity. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, making Nigeria home to some of the world's largest Muslim and Christian populations. The country is roughly divided between Muslims, primarily in the northern regions, and Christians, predominantly in the south; indigenous belief systems, especially among the Igbo and Yoruba, represent a smaller percentage of the population.
As a regional power in Africa and a recognized middle power in international relations, Nigeria boasts the fourth-largest economy on the continent and ranks 53rd globally by nominal GDP, while it holds the 27th position by purchasing power parity (PPP). Often referred to as the "Giant of Africa," Nigeria is considered an emerging market by the World Bank and plays an influential role as a founding member of the African Union. Its participation extends to various international organizations, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and OPEC. Additionally, Nigeria is part of the MINT group of countries and is identified as one of the "Next Eleven" economies.
Source: Wikipedia
