Nigeria

Quick Facts: Who was Nigeria?

Subject:

Nigeria

Known for:

A West African nation with over 242 million people, known for its diverse cultures.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of 923,769 square kilometres (356,669 mi2). With a population of more than 242 million, it is the most populous country in Africa, and the world's sixth-most populous country. Nigeria borders Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Nigeria is a federal republic comprising 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where its capital, Abuja, is located.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The largest city in Nigeria by population is Lagos, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world and the second largest in Africa. Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct languages, all identifying with a wide variety of cultures. The three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo together constituting over 60% of the total population. The official language is English. Nigeria's constitution ensures freedom of religion.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The country is divided roughly in half between Muslims and Christians; indigenous religions, such as those native to the Igbo and Yoruba ethnicities, are in the minority. Nigeria has been home to several indigenous material cultures, pre-colonial states and kingdoms since the second millennium BC. The Nok culture, c. 1500 BC, marks one of the earliest known civilisations in the region. The Hausa Kingdoms inhabited the north, with the Edo Kingdom of Benin in the south, the Igbo Kingdom of Nri in the southeast, and in the southwest the Yoruba Empire of Oyo. The present-day territory of Nigeria was home to a vast array of city-states.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1500: 1500 Milestone — 1500 BC, marks one of the earliest known civilisations in the region.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Nigeria

True or False: “The name Nigeria was originally derived from the indigenous Tuareg word 'egerew n-igerewen' meaning 'river of rivers'.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the name is related to the Niger River, Flora Shaw coined the name in 1897; the original source for the river name is uncertain.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abd al-Samad — Historical peer (Born in 1500) (1500): Founding master of Mughal miniature painting, active in the 16th century.
• Atahualpa — Historical peer (Born in 1500) (1500): The last effective Inca Emperor, whose reign marked the end of the great Andean civilization.
• Nigerian Civil War — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War) was an armed conflict over secession and ethnic tensions.
• Night of the Long Knives — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The 1934 purge that eliminated internal rivals within Nazi Germany to consolidate Hitler's absolute power.
• Nightwish — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Finnish symphonic metal band known for epic, operatic soundscapes.
• Nihon Hidankyo — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Japanese organization representing atomic bomb survivors advocating for nuclear disarmament.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nigeria