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Nigeria

✨ The giant of Africa

Nigeria is a country in West Africa, bordered by Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Its southern coast faces the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean. Abuja is the capital, while Lagos is the country's largest city and a major centre of commerce and culture. Covering about 923,800 square kilometres, Nigeria has a wide variety of landscapes and climates.

The north is generally drier, with areas of savanna and Sahel, while the south is wetter and includes tropical forests, wetlands and the Niger Delta. The Niger and Benue are the country's two main rivers and meet near the city of Lokoja. Nigeria also has a large variety of plant and animal species, although natural habitats have been affected by agriculture, urban growth and other human activities.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and has hundreds of ethnic groups and languages. Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are among the most widely spoken indigenous languages, while English is the official language. The country has a rich cultural heritage expressed through music, literature, art, festivals and traditional crafts. Its economy is diversified, with petroleum and natural gas playing an important role alongside agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications and services.

Nigeria is also one of Africa's major oil producers. Archaeological discoveries, including the famous terracotta figures associated with the Nok culture, show that organized societies flourished in the region many centuries ago. Nigeria became independent from the United Kingdom on 1 October 1960 and became a republic in 1963. Today, it is a federal republic made up of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that Nigeria has its own Hollywood? It's called 'Nollywood.' It is the second-largest film producer in the world, just after India and ahead of the United States! Every year, thousands of films are shot in Nigeria. Nigerians love telling stories full of magic, romance, and humor that are watched throughout Africa.

Nigeria is a true modern-day 'Tower of Babel.' Over 500 different languages are spoken there! For everyone to understand each other, Nigerians created 'Pidgin,' a very fun and vivid mix of English and local languages. For example, instead of saying 'how are you?', people often say 'How you dey?'. It is a language full of rhythm that unites the whole country.

In the center of Nigeria stands a mysterious rock called Zuma Rock. It is a block of black stone so large that it has its own face! If you look closely at one side of the rock, you can see shapes that look like eyes, a nose, and a mouth. People call it 'the watchman of the city,' and it is so important that it appears on the country's banknotes.