Nigeria is a country 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 in the Atlantic Ocean.

The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British journalist Flora Shaw, who later married Baron Frederick Lugard, a British colonial administrator. Nigeria is often referred to as the “Giant of Africa”, owing to its large population and economy. With approximately 174 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world.

Despite the insecurity issues in Nigeria, there are still some really interesting facts about Nigeria. Oddastic brings you some of the unbelievable but true facts about Nigeria.

1. Cameroon Was An Administrative Part of Nigeria.

In 1945, Cameroon was an administrative part of Nigeria, hence the NCNC party (National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons). Towards independence the UN mandated British held former German territory, south Cameroon opted to join French Cameroon and not Nigeria.

2. Nigerian Women Lead In Skin Bleaching.

A study by World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that Nigeria has the world’s highest percentage of women using skin lightening agents in the quest for “beauty”. While a study by the University of Cape Town suggests that one woman in three in South Africa bleaches her skin, it was reported that nearly 8 out of 10 Nigerian women bleach their skin.

The World Health Organization reported that 77% of Nigerian women use skin lightening products on a regular basis. They are followed by Togo with 59%; South Africa with 35%; and Mali at 25%.

Zainab Fashola from Kuddy Cosmetics said: “Lightening creams is the biggest for cosmetics in Nigeria because we could bring in like Jergens or normal body lotions but they always ask, ‘Does it lighten? So if it doesn’t they don’t want to buy it.”

3. Nigeria Has The Richest Pastor In The World.

Bishop David Oyedepo was named the World’s wealthiest preacher in 2014, with a net worth of $150 Million. Ever since he founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship center, with a seating capacity of 50,000.

Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London and the United States. He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books (which are often centered on prosperity). He founded and owns Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.

4. Who Designed The Nigerian National Flag?

The Nigeria national flag was designed by Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi in 1959. Taiwo then was a student in England when he saw the advertisement on national daily that entries were being accepted for the design of a better national flag.

He quickly prepared his entries which was finally accepted as the best after a thorough consideration. The flag was publicly displayed for the first time in 1960 during Nigeria Independence From British Colonization the flag also earned the designer a cash price of 100 pounds.

The two greenish left and right in the National flag of Nigeria represents Nigeria’s vast forest and agriculture, the abundant national wealth and its lush and arable vegetation while the white at the centre represents peace and unity (absolute serenity).

5. The Cost of a Car And a Plane Ticket in 1975.

In 1975, a brand new car sold for N2,000 while a ticket to London was less than N100.

6. The Yoruba People Of Nigeria Has The Highest Twinning Rate In The World.

The Yoruba present the highest fraternal twinning rate in the world (4.4% of all maternities). They manifest at 45–50 twin sets (or 90–100 twins) per 1,000 live births, possibly because of high consumption of a specific type of yam containing a natural phytoestrogen which may stimulate the ovaries to release an egg from each side. Twins are very important for the Yoruba and they usually tend to give special names to each twin.

The first of the twins to be born is traditionally named Taiyewo or Tayewo, which means ‘the first to taste the world’, or the ‘slave to the second twin’, this is often shortened to Taiwo, Taiye or Taye. Kehinde, or Kenny for short, is the name of the last born twin. Kehinde is sometimes also referred to as Kehindegbegbon which is short for Omokehindegbegbon and means, ‘the child that came last gets the rights of the eldest’.

7. Nigeria Has The Largest Diversity of Butterflies In The World.

The area around Calabar, one of Nigeria’s regional hubs, contains the world’s largest diversity of butterflies. A good way to see them is to tour Cross River National Park, where over 300 species live, including the gorgeous Papilio monachus, the unusual blue Iolaus iasis, and the newly-discovered Tetrahanis okwangwo.

8. Nigerian People Are The Happiest In The World.

A study of more than 65 countries published in the UK’s New Scientist magazine suggests that the happiest people in the world live in Nigeria – and the least happy, in Romania. Nigeria has the highest percentage of happy people followed by Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico, while Russia, Armenia and Romania have the fewest.

Nigeria has the worlds happiest, most optimistic and hopeful people! The country is certainly no disneyland as it is constantly ridden with political instability, the present insecurity issue, corrupt leaders etc but hope is what keeps them moving forward.

The survey confirms the old adage that money cannot buy happiness.

9. Nigeria Has The Longest Bridge in Africa.

The 11.8km (5-mile) long Third Mainland Bridge connects Lagos Island to the mainland. It starts at Oworonshoki on the Lagos mainland, and ends at Adeniji-Adele interchange on Lagos Island. There is also a link mid-way through the bridge that leads to Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The bridge was built by Julius Berger PLC.

10. Nigeria is One of The Oldest Locations of Human Existence.

Archaeological evidence indicates that humans lived in Nigeria as far back as 9000 BC, making it one of the oldest spots on earth for human settlement. The Nok civilisation (500 BC – 200 AD) is the oldest known civilisation in Nigeria.

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