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About Nigeria
As Africa's most populous country, Nigeria’s
prosperity and stability are essential to growth
and stability in West Africa and in sub-Saharan
Africa as a whole.
Nigeria has supported regional stability through
its diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts
throughout the continent.
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In 2003, Nigerians were reported to be the happiest
people in a scientific survey carried out in 65 nations
in 1999-2001.
The
research was reported by one of the world's top science
magazines,
New Scientist, and was picked up by a number of
news outlets. See
Nigeria tops happiness survey. The report
considered that the country's family life and culture
were more important than its problems and material
wealth in determining happiness.
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Nigeria
is a
federal
constitutional republic comprising
36 and one
Federal Capital Territory. The country is located in
West Africa and shares land
borders with the Republic of
Benin in the west,
Chad and
Cameroon in the east, and
Niger in the north. Its coast lies on the
Gulf of Guinea, part of the
Atlantic Ocean, in the south. The capital city is
Abuja.
Nigeria is the most populous country in
Africa and the
eighth most populous country in the world with a
population of over 140 million. The country is listed
among the "Next
Eleven" economies, and is one of the fastest growing
in the world with the
International Monetary Fund projecting growth of 9%
in 2008 and 8.3% in 2009
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Ethno-linguistic groups
Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups, with varying
languages and customs, creating a country of rich ethnic
diversity. The largest ethnic groups are the
Fulani/Hausa,
Yoruba,
Igbo, accounting for 68% of population, while the
Edo,
Ijaw (10%),
Kanuri,
Ibibio, Ebira
Nupe and
Tiv comprise 27%; other minorities make up the
remaining 7 percent.
The middle belt of Nigeria is known for its diversity of
ethnic groups, including the Pyem, Goemai, and
Kofyar.
There are small minorities of
British,
Americans,
East Indians,
Chinese,
Japanese,
Syrian,
Lebanese and refugees and immigrants from other
West African or
East African nations. These minorities mostly reside
in major cities such as
Lagos and
Abuja, or in the
Niger Delta as employees for the major oil
companies. A number of
Cubans settled Nigeria as political refugees
following the
Cuban Revolution.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, a number of
ex-slaves of
Afro-Cuban and
Afro-Brazilian descent
and emigrants from
Sierra Leone established communities in
Lagos,
Ibadan and other regions of Nigeria. Many ex-slaves
came to Nigeria following the
emancipation of
slaves in
Latin America. Many of the
immigrants, sometimes called Saros (immigrants from
Sierra Leone) and Amaro (ex-slaves from Brazil)
later became prominent merchants and
missionaries in
Lagos and
Abeokuta.
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Literature
Nigeria has a rich literary history, and Nigerians
have authored many influential works of
post-colonial literature in the
English language. Nigeria's best-known writers are
Wole Soyinka, the first African
Nobel Laureate in Literature and
Chinua Achebe, the legendary writer best known for
the novel,
Things Fall Apart and his controversial critique
of
Joseph Conrad. Other Nigerian
writers and
poets who are well known on the international stage
include
John Pepper Clark,
Ben Okri,
Buchi Emecheta,
Helon Habila,
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and
Ken Saro Wiwa who was executed in 1995 by the
military regime.
Nigeria has the second largest newspaper market in
Africa (after Egypt) with an estimated circulation of
several million copies daily in 2003
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Nigerian National Anthem
"Arise, O compatriots,
Nigeria's call obey
To serve our Fatherland
With love and strength and faith.
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain,
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity." |
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