Nigeria, the biggest black nation in the world, located in West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea, with a total land area of 923,768 km2, with a population estimate of about 185,989,640people, got her independence from British colonial rule on the 1st of October, 1960, and today we celebrate her 57th birthday/anniversary.
The complexity of our composition makes us a very unique nation. Nigeria has about 371 ethnic groups with over 520 dialects spoken within the country. But then three (3), out of these groups are considered the major ethnic groups and they are: Hausa, Ibo, and Yoruba, and English language is spoken as the major lingual franca in the country.
In addition Nigeria is a multi religious country, with three major religions, Christianity, Islam and the African traditional religion. There are also some other little religious groups in the forms of cults and the rest of them.
Shortly after the birth of this baby, she experienced the first coup d'etat, led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, in January 1966, and a counter coup in July 1966 this led to progroms which culminated to a full blown Civil War which started in May, 1967, and lasted for 3 years. Thus the growth of this new born nation became stunted as lots of lives were lost, properties damaged and our economy pulled back.
There have also been cases of religious inspired fights and killings, due to the multi religious nature of the nation. This has lead to loss of so many lives and destruction of properties worth millions
We have been plagued with corrupt and wicked leaders, who loot our national treasury dry allowing the populace to live in penury. There's no basic amenities and infrastructure available.
The journey so far has not been a very smooth ride, we have experienced great turmoils as a nation, we have experienced war. We have experienced hunger, agitations, communal crisis, ethnic killings, religious crisis and so much more, but we have kept faith as a nation even in the midst of all these.
Despite the trials, despite the failure, despite the hardship, Nigerians are still proud to be identified with this great land of opportunity, because we see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Notwithstanding the hardships we face, we look at the GREEN AND WHITE FLAG, and we remember that above all allegiances, we are Nigerians and so today we celebrate our beloved nation
57 HAPPY CHEERS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIGERIA
NIGERIA WE HAIL THEE.
thanks @gbenga for the lovely badge