Exciting Historical Facts about Nigeria That You should know

Nigeria is a beauty. She has a tremendous amount of human and natural resources. From the beauty of the crowd in Lagos streets to the warm and cold spring of Ikogosi, you can tell of her beauty.

The value of Nigeria is not appreciated. Today, we are shedding some light on the beauty of the country. Here are some exciting facts you should know about Nigeria. Read up the following did you know facts, learn and share with friends.

1. The two most important Rivers in Nigeria are River Niger and Benue. These rivers meet at Lokojo in Kogi State creating a confluence.
2. The three major Nigerian languages are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.
3. The lingua franca (official language) of Nigeria is English. It is widely spoken in practically all parts of the country
4. Nigerians are one of the most happiest people in the world
5. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. She is the 7th most populous nation in the world.
6. The first man to own a car in Nigeria is Herbert Macauley
7. The first woman to own a car in Nigeria is Mrs Efunroye Tinubu
8. The first woman to drive a car in Nigeria is Mrs Olufunmilayo Kuti
9. The first Storey building to be pitched in Nigeria is situated in Badagary Lagos State
10. The first female judge of Nigeria is Mrs Rose Menyen Onyenuche
11. The major source of Nigeria’s electricity is hydropower. Hydroelectric power is generated in the Kanji dam in Niger State.
12. The first businessman in Nigeria King Jaja of Opobo. He becomes a successful exporter of palm oil to Liverpool, independent of British middlemen. He was dethroned in 1887
13. The first hospital built in Nigeria is the General Hospital, Lagos.
14. The Aba women’s riot took place in 1929. They rebelled against economic and socio-political oppression
15. The pound and shilling were introduced as currency in Nigeria in 1945
16. The Nigerian railway system was established in 1914.
17. The southern and northern part of Nigeria was amalgamated by Sir Fredrick Lugard in 1914
18. The first political party established in Nigeria was the NNDP by Herbert Macauley
19. The first motor road was from Ibadan to Oyo. It was completed in 1905
20. The first female pilot in Nigeria is Mrs Chinyere Onyenuche
21. Nigeria has over 200 ethnic groups
22. Chief Obafemi Awolowo introduced free Education in the formal western Region in 1955.
23. The first female doctor in Nigeria is Dr Elizabeth Abimbola
24. There are 5 active international airports in Nigeria. They are Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Abuja), Mallam Aminu International Airport (Kano), Port Harcourt International Airport (Port Harcourt) and Margaret Ekpo International Airport (Calabar)
25. The longest river in Nigeria is River Niger
26. The hottest part of Nigeria is Sokoto. It has an annual average temperature of 28.3 degrees Celsius
27. The first Nigerian to win an Olympic Gold medal is Chioma Ajunwa
28. The first Nigeria Nobel Prize winner is Professor Wole Soyinka.
29. The first university in Nigeria is the University of Ibadan
30. The first female author in Nigeria is Mrs Flora Nwakpa
31. The first indigenous chief justice of Nigeria was Sir Ademola Adetokunbo
32. Nigeria labour congress was established on 26th February 1978
33. The Nigeria Nollywood is the largest film producer in a year in Africa and the second largest in the world (India being the first)
34. In 1996, the Nigerian Super Eagle became the first African team to win the Olympic gold medal
35. The first indigenous Inspector general of police was Mr Louise Edet. He was appointed in 1966 and named after the police force headquarters in Abuja
36. The first population census was held in Nigeria on November 5th 1963
37. The first television station in Nigeria is the Western Nigerian Government Broadcasting Corporation (WNTV)
38. The largest state in Nigeria in land measurement is Niger state.
39. Nigeria was named by Flora Shaw from Niger Area
40. The first secondary school in Nigeria is CMS Bariga in Lagos State. It was established in 1959
41. The smallest state in Nigeria in land mass is Lagos state
42. The first man to reach the source of River Niger is Mongo Park. He died and was buried in Jebba, at the bank of the river.
43. The first capital of Nigeria is situated in Calabar. It was later moved to Lokoja, Lagos and finally to Abuja.
44. Econet was the first GSM network provider to start its operation in Nigeria. It later became Vodacom, V-mobile, Celtel, Zain and finally Airtel
45. Before independence, the “Union Jack” British flag was used in Nigeria
46. The first woman to be honoured as a senior advocate in Nigeria was Mrs Folake Solanke
47. The first female professor in Nigeria is Elfrida Adebo
48. The first woman commissioner of police in Nigeria is Mrs Bisi Ugowe
49. The first Nigerian to speak a foreign language in Nigeria was Oba Ezigie of Benin in 1503
50. The first government girls’ secondary school in Nigeria is Queen Elizabeth Girls secondary school in Ilorin (1956)
51. The first wrestler in Nigerian to win a world belt was Mike Okpala
52. The first oil well dug in Nigeria is at Olubiri, Port Harcourt
53. The first Nigeria National anthem was written by Mrs E.J. Williams. It was composed into a song by Mrs Frenciscan Benda.
54. The second and current Nigeria National anthem was written by Professor Akin Ayuba. It was composed into a song by AIG Emmanuel Odiase
55. The Nigeria Coat of Arms was designed by the Royal College of Arms
56. Taiwo Akinkunmi designed the Nigeria national flag
57. Mary Slessor stopped the killing of twins in Nigeria (Calabar)
58. Bishop Ajayi Crowther is the first African Bishop. He translated the English Bible into Yoruba.
59. The first novel published in Nigeria is Efuru by Flora Nwapa (1966).
60. The Nigeria State with the highest number of professors is Ekiti State
61. The Yorubas have the highest rate of twinning in the world
62. Aliko Dangote is the richest man in Africa. He has a net worth of of over 16 billion dollers
63. Nigeria’s north occupies about 80% of Nigeria’s land mass. It has an estimated 719,000 square kilometres
64. Mrs. Fumilayo Kuti was one of the delegates that negotiated Nigeria’s independence in Britain
65. Before 1984 travel Visa was not required to travel to the United Kingdom from Nigeria
66. Nigeria took its first loan from the World Bank in the year 1977
67. When IMF demands that Nigeria devalue its currency Buhari and Idiagbon declined
68. According to Forbes, Nigeria has 5 of the top richest pastors in the entire world
69. Nigeria has the highest paid legislators in the entire world
70. Nigeria was converted from a Parliamentary system to a Presidential system of government during Obasanjo military regime
71. Gowon split the four regions of Nigeria into 12 States in 1967
72. In 1945 Cameroon was an administrative part of Nigeria