10 Interesting Things About Nigeria You Need To Know

As a very proud Nigerian, I’m always ready and happy to sprout facts about Nigeria at any time and place.

Here are some random facts about Nigeria you may not know:

1. In 1979, Afrobeat Legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti tried running for the Presidency of Nigeria.

Image: AP Photo/Laurent Rebours

2.  In 1984, General Buhari (Head of State) refused to devalue the Naira against the advice of IMF just as he did recently.

Image: VenturesAfrica

3.  Fela’s mother, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti helped negotiate Nigeria’s independence from Britain in the 50’s.

Image: MaritimeTimesNewspaper

4.  In 1967, Enugu was declared the capital of the republic of Biafra.

Image: FascinatingNigeriaMagazine

5.  According to Forbes, the richest Pastor in Nigeria is Bishop David Oyedepo of Faith Tabernacle (aka Winners Chapel) with an estimated net worth of $150 million.

Image: Encomium NG

6.  The highest mountain in Nigeria is called Chappal Waddi (2,491 metres) and is located on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba state.

Image: Tumblr/FuckYeahAfricaRocks

7. Samuel Okwaraji, the Nigerian footballer who collapsed and died during the World Cup qualifier match  against Angola was a qualified lawyer with a masters degree in International Law from the University of Rome.

Image: NigeriaWorld

8. Nigerian automobile company, Innoson Motors is the first made in Africa automobile brand.

Image: InnosonIVM

9. Prince Jaja Wachukwu raised the motion in the UN that prevented the South African Apartheid regime from killing Nelson Mandela and other political dissents when he was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the UN.

Image: Wikipedia

10.  Prof Wole Soyinka does not have a Ph.D. although he regularly supervised Ph.D. dissertations. He has many honorary Doctorates.