Nigeria

Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 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 in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. There are over 500 ethnic groups in Nigeria of which the three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

Did you know that:
1. The country was named "Nigeria" after the River Niger.
2. Niger River is Africa's third largest river.
3. English is the main language of Nigeria. Apart from that, 300(!) languages are spoken in the country.
4. Apart from being a regional power, Nigeria is also listed amongst the "Next Eleven" economies.
5. Nigeria has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a growth of 9% in 2008 and 8.3% in 2009.
6. Archaeological evidence shows that human existence in Nigeria has a history which starts from 9000 BC. The Nok civilization (around 500 BC-200 AD) is the earliest known civilization here.
7. Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Nigeria (1472).
8. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the eighth most populous country in the world.
9. Oil was discovered in Nigeria in 1956, at Oloibiri (Bayelsa State).