CURIOUS FACTS CONTEST #9 : AMAZING FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NIGERIA
DO YOU KNOW THAT
The Walls of Benin (800-1400AD), in present day Edo State, are the longest ancient earthworks in the world, and probably the largest man-made structure on earth. They enclose 6500 square kilometers of community lands that connected about 500 communities. At over 16000km long, it was thought to be twice the length of the Great Wall of China, until it was announced in 2012 (after five years of meticulous measurement by Chinese surveyors) that the Great Wall is about 21,000km long.
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the 8th most populous in the world with a population of more than 160 million people. The next African country to come close is Ethiopia with a population count of 84 million. That is just about half of the Nigerian population.The country is also the 7 th most populous nation in the world.
One of the Oldest Locations of Human Existence
Evidence from archaeologicaldiscoveries has shown that there was a history of human existence in Nigeria which has been dated to as far back as 9000 BC. The Nok civilization (around 500 BC-200 AD) is the earliest known civilization here
Home Of Nollywood
Nollywood is the name given to the Nigerian movie industry and it has recently been ranked the second largest producers of movies in the world; just trailing behind Bollywood; the Indian film industry and ahead of America’s Hollywood. Nollywood produces up to 200 movies every single week and her movies have won half of the yearly awards for best picture since 2005
The Longest Bridge in Africa
The Third Mainland Bridge (in Lagos State) connecting Lagos Island to the mainland is the longest bridge in Africa—it measures about 11.8km. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi expressway and Lagos-Ibadan expressway and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. There is also a link midway through the bridge that leads to the Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and opened by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990
Largest Diversity of Butterfly
Nigeria boasts in being the most suitable habitat for the worlds largest diversity of the most colorful creatures – the butterflies. It is widely believed that the areas surrounding Calabar, Cross River State in the southern part of the country harbors the world’s largest diversity of butterflies.
THE RICHEST FEMALE IN AFRICA
The richest black woman in the world is a Nigerian – Folorunso Alakija
THE MALE RICHEST MAN IN AFRICA
The richest man in Africa is a Nigeria. His name is Aliko Dangote, the founder of the Dangote Group.
Nigeria has more muslims than the Saudi Arabia
THE INDIGOBIRD OF JOS
The indigobird is unique to only the Jos Plateau. It is found no where else in the world
THE WAXBILL BIRD OF ANAMBRA
The anambra waxbill bird is found only in Southern Nigeria and nowhere else in the world.
OLD SKULL OF IWO-ELERU
The 13000 year old Iwo-Eleru cave skull is the oldest human fossil archive in West Africa and has been said to have over 140 000 year old feature