Nigeria

The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in West Africa. It is the most populous country in Africa. It borders Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the south. Major cities include the capital Abuja, the former capital Lagos, Ibadan, Osogbo, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, Jos, Ilorin, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Sokoto and Benin City. The country's name is unrelated to its African heritage; it was proposed by a Times article in 1897.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Nigeria

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The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria accounts for approximately one-quarter of Africa's people. Although fewer than 25% of Nigerians are urban dwellers, at least 24 cities have populations of more than 100,000 and 45-60% of the population are expected to reside in or around metropolitan areas by the year 2015.

Related Topics:
Africa

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The variety of customs, languages, and traditions among Nigeria's estimated 250 ethnic groups gives the country a rich cultural diversity. The dominant ethnic group in the northern part are the Hausa-Fulani, the overwhelming majority of whom are Muslim. Other major ethnic groups of the north are the Nupe, Tiv, and Kanuri.

Related Topics:
Hausa-Fulani - Muslim - Nupe - Tiv - Kanuri

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The Yoruba people are predominant in the south. Over half of the Yorubas are Christian and about a quarter are Muslim, with the remainder following mostly traditional beliefs. The Ibo, Efik, Ibibio/Annang, and Ijaw (the country's fourth-largest ethnic group) communities also comprise a substantial segment of the population in that area.

Related Topics:
Yoruba - Christian - Muslim - Ibo - Efik - Ibibio/Annang - Ijaw

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Persons of different language backgrounds most commonly communicate in English, although knowledge of two or more Nigerian languages is widespread. Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo are the most widely used Nigerian languages.

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In recent years against a background of national economic and political uncertainty, there has been a radicalization of politics particularly in the northern part of the country. Several northern states have instituted parts of traditional Islamic Sharia law including enforcing the strict separation of the sexes and handing out medieval punishment for crimes such as theft and adultery.

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Education

Colleges: See List of Nigerian universities

Related Topics:
College - List of Nigerian universities

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