Discover Nigeria: 18 Amazing Fun Facts to Uncover the True Essence of this Vibrant Country

1. Yam-tastic Twins

Feeling bro-tastic? Better stock up on yams! The Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria seem to have cornered the market on sibling solidarity, all thanks to their love for these scrumptious spuds: Research has uncovered a possible link between white yam consumption and the remarkably high incidence of fraternal twinning among the Yoruba tribe, suggesting that this starchy delight may boost ovulation rates and knee-slapping double acts, although it's not quite the top of the twinning pops globally.
Source => medicine.yale.edu

2. Nigeria's Snow Queen Visit

In a game of "freeze tag" gone wild, Nigeria had its own visit from Elsa the Snow Queen: In May 2016, a rare ice rain descended upon the typically tropical Jos Plateau, the coldest state in Nigeria, due to a rain shadow cast by the Atlas Mountains.
Source => doesitsnowin.com

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=> Fun Facts about Africa

3. Theatrical Economy

If Nigeria were a triple-threat theater kid, it'd be belting out its economic prowess and tap-dancing the night away on the stage of sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria steals the show with the largest economy in the region, boasting an impressive GDP of $506.6 billion, and leaving South Africa and Ethiopia in its 'jazz-hand'-shaped dust.
Source => africa.businessinsider.com

4. Spicy Nollywood Drama

Lights, camera, jollof! Nigeria's got a flair for drama that's almost as intense as their famous spicy rice dish: Nollywood, the nation's film industry, dazzles the world with over 2,000 low-budget movies annualy and rakes in an impressive $1.2 billion in revenue, ranking it as one of the most prolific cinematic giants on the global stage.
Source => funtimesmagazine.com

5. Okada Adventures

Desperate times called for desperate measures, with idle hands steering two-wheeled taxis into the daily hustle and bustle: Prior to the okada ban in Lagos, Nigeria, unemployed youths found financial salvation as motorcycle taxi drivers, earning a daily wage of 6,000 to 7,000 naira (£12-£14), until they were deemed a driving disaster, contributing to 767 of the 1,712 accidents recorded in the first quarter of the year.
Source => theguardian.com

6. Guinness Party Time

If Ireland were to throw a Guinness-themed party, Nigeria would be the life of the soirée: Nigeria ranks as one of the top global consumers of this iconic stout, in fact, they have been downing bottle after glass bottle since 1827. It's no wonder then that Nigeria proudly hosts one of the elite five Guinness breweries worldwide, solidifying its spot as a true Guinness connoisseur outside the Emerald Isle.
Source => thedrinksbusiness.com

7. Baby Boom Central

Nigeria's baby boomers can't seem to hit the pause button, as the nation's storks work overtime delivering bundles of joy left and right: With a 2.41% population increase from 2022 to 2023, Nigeria boasts one of the fastest-growing populations in the world, with United Nations projections anticipating this trend to continue until at least 2100.
Source => macrotrends.net

8. Noah’s African Cousin

Step aside, Noah's Ark: Nigeria's got its own ancient boat hero! The Dufuna dugout canoe, discovered in Yobe State in 1987, takes the crown as Africa's oldest known boat – a whopping 8,500 to 8,000 years old. Lovingly crafted by skilled artisans, this 8.4-meter catch of the day was used for fishing along the Komadugu Gana River.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Candlelit Nostalgia

In the days of yore when wax reliefs and wick wonders illuminated the night, Nigeria found itself reveling in a flurry of flickering flames: It was common for candles to be widely used in Nigeria as a primary source of light during power outages before generators gained immense popularity, but alas, Nigeria cannot claim the honor of being the world's largest user of candles for lighting purposes.
Source => evambamalu.medium.com

10. Literary Jungle Gym

When lions and tigers bounce off Nigeria's literary jungle gym, they utter the names of Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe: Nigeria boasts Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, a world-renowned playwright, and Chinua Achebe, whose novel "Things Fall Apart" is a cornerstone of African literature.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Fintech Walk of Fame

Hold on to your fintech wigs! Nigeria has strutted its way down the startup funding catwalk, stomping through Africa and bursting through financial barriers left and right: In 2022, Nigerian startups raised a whopping US$976,146,000 across 180 companies, with the fintech sector teasing its voluminous wallet to account for almost half of these ventures and over half of the funds. Nigeria certainly knows how to werk it, although it seems their runway walk has slowed down just a tad since last year.
Source => disrupt-africa.com

12. Football Stamp Collectors

When Nigeria isn't too busy collecting football-themed stamps, they're out there making history on the field: The nation has qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups, skipping only the 2006 and 2022 editions, and advanced to the round of 16 three times, solidifying Nigeria's status as one of Africa's top-performing football countries in the prestigious tournament.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

13. Oil Kings and Barrels

Roll out the barrel—for Nigeria, that is: As Africa's slick oil king, this thriving nation boasts not only the largest oil production and crude oil exports on the continent, but also the second-largest crude oil reserves with a whopping 36.9 billion barrels as of 2021. And to keep things extra juicy, they play runner-up to Libya's 48.4 billion barrels and watch Egypt flaunt its colossal refining capacity of 833 thousand barrels daily.
Source => statista.com

14. Smoothie Flag Pride

Who needs a red sun when you have green, white, and green? Nigeria's flag beamed with pride like a kale smoothie brew on a peaceful morning: Designed by 23-year-old Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi in 1959, the Nigerian flag was first officially hoisted on October 1, 1960, as the country gained independence from the United Kingdom. Its green-white-green vertical bands symbolize Nigeria's natural wealth, peace, and unity. Red sun? Removed from the initial design to keep things cool and inclusive, Nigeria still flaunts its creativity through unique ensigns and state flags.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

15. Missing Terracotta Party

In a historical game of "Where's Waldo?", Nigeria seems to have misplaced a 2,000-year-old terracotta party head who knew a thing or two about fashion and jewelry: The Nok culture, which dates back to 500 BC, boasted the oldest known figurative sculpture south of the Sahara, complete with artistic human figures sporting intricate hairstyles and adornments. As mysterious as they are talented, this enigmatic society developed centers for ironworking and terracotta production, and yet not much has been uncovered about their day-to-day lives.
Source => metmuseum.org

16. WhatsApp-Mania

Nigeria's favorite pastime isn't jollof wars or Nollywood marathons – it's WhatsApp-ing the day away! Yes, you guessed it right: As of January 2023, Nigeria boasted 31.6 million active social media users, with an overwhelming 95% of them hooked to WhatsApp. Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram trail behind, still popular but not quite at the champ's level.
Source => statista.com

17. Royally Bubbly

Popping bottles with the royal touch: Nigeria has a penchant for high-end champagne, including the princely Moët & Chandon Dom Perignon Charles & Diana 1961, crafted for Princess Diana's birth and royal wedding toast, costing N1.6 million ($4,344). Nigeria's very own Alexander Amosu created the dazzling Goût de Diamants, Taste of Diamonds, adorned with Swarovski crystals – but contrary to widespread belief, its $1.2 million price tag doesn't make it the world's most expensive champagne.
Source => medianigeria.com

18. Lingual Galaxies

In Nigeria, you might say language barriers go where no man has gone before: boldly trekking through a whopping 521 different lingual galaxies! But fear not, space travelers, for the celestial waters are navigated by an almighty English flagship, thanks to the Brits' colonization mission back in the day.
Source => alphaomegatranslations.com