Nigeria University Facts

This post brings to you facts about universities in Nigeria. Some of these facts are actually obsure. Expect more on this topic later.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was designed by an Isreali architect Arieh Sharon. He designed many buildings in Isreal. He was a foremost architect who won the Isreali Prize for Architecture in 1962. You may want to visit here for more architectural details about OAU.

Federal University of  Technology Yola (FUTY) has been renamed Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH). Modibbo Adama was the founder of Fombina Kingdom (Adamawa Emirate Council).

Tafawa Balewa University (in Bauchi, Bauchi State) actually belongs in the ‘university of technology’ category. Many prospective university students are not aware of this fact because it has no ‘technology’ in its nomenclature.

Freaky Coincidences

This list presents places in Nigeria bearing the same name. I got to know of these somewhat trivial facts while I was perusing my atlas sometime ago. Some of these places sharing the same name are totally unrelated and differences in culture, religion, language etc. are not uncommon. It should also be noted that pronunciations could differ.

Ikoyi (Oyo) and Ikoyi (Lagos)

No doubt, the more famous of the two Ikoyis is the one in Lagos state. Ikoyi (Lagos) is one of the poshest places in Nigeria. Ikoyi (Oyo) is not far from Ogbomosho, a Yoruba town with a large population. It goes without saying that both Ikoyis are Yoruba towns.

Azare (Nasarawa) and Azare (Bauchi)

Chances are that the Azare you know is the one in Bauchi. It is no doubt bigger, and one of the largest towns in Bauchi State. Azare (Nasarawa) is a much smaller town located close to the border with Plateau State.

Hello Readers

Hello, if you are a regular visitor here, you may have noticed that the blog hasn't been updated for while. I was down with malaria and typhoid fever, and it was very serious. But hey! Am back now. Ready to hit the ground running.

Top Geography Facts About Nigeria

Here is a cool list of geography facts about Nigeria that some Nigerians may be oblivious of.

The six-zone structure was adopted in the 1995 constitutional conference, following former vice-president Alex Ekwueme’s proposal. It has since gained currency, even though this zonal structure is not in the constitution. The 1995 constitutional conference did not even produce a constitution.

The six (6) geo-political zones are South-West, South-East, South-South, North-East, North-West, and North-Central.

The composition of each zone:

South-West (6): Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states.

South-East (5): Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo and Abia states.

South-South (6): Edo, Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross-River and Akwa-Ibom states.

North-East (6): Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe states.

Top 10 facts About Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. Its population is estimated at over 160,000,000. The next country (Ethiopia) has just about half the population of Nigeria.

In 1929, the Aba riots occurred. It was a riot by women against high taxes imposed by British officials. The low return on their palm kernel crops lead to this. During the riot, buildings were burnt and some officials were driven off. Government troops sent in killed about 50 women.

A List of Popular Misconceptions in Nigeria

THE NORTH HAS A FEW ETHNIC GROUPS— ALMOST EVERYONE IS EITHER HAUSA OR FULANI

This is absolutely not true. As a matter of fact, it is the most ethnically diverse region of Nigeria. Some languages are even extinct, for example, Kubi .There are some states where Hausas are actually settlers or in the minority or both. A classical example is Yobe State—major ethnic groups are Fulani, Kanuri, Bade, Kare-Kare, Bolewa. And they all have their respective languages. To the best of my knowledge, none of the local government areas in Yobe can be considered to be ‘owned’ by Hausas. Though, there are Hausas in all the local government areas.

ALL PAST NORTHTERN NIGERIAN LEADERS WERE HAUSAS, THE FULANIS ARE JUST NOMADS

Just check the list below.

General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar  – Gwari

Late General Sani Abacha—Kanuri

A List of Top Facts About Nigeria

• Here is another scintillating list of facts about Nigeria for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!
• The flag of Nigeria was designed in 1959 by Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi and first hoisted on October 1, 1960. The white stripe denotes peace. The green stripes represent the fertile land and agriculture. The original design submitted by Akinkunmi had a red sun with rays placed at the top of the white stripe.
• The motto of Nigeria is “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.”
• It has been said that Nigeria is home to probably the world’s largest diversity of butterflies.

What Do You Know About Kebbi State?

Here is post about a state that some may call a backwater—Kebbi State. The only thing many people know about the state is that its capital city is Birnin Kebbi (learnt in nursery school). Add to that by going through this post.

Kebbi State (slogan: Land of Equity) was created out of the then Sokoto State on 27 August 1991 by the government of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. It lies in North-western Nigeria with its capital in Birnin Kebbi. It became part of the Songhai Empire in the fifteenth century.

Random Facts About Nigeria IV

Here is another amazing list about Nigeria. Enjoy!

Chances are that you know of somebody who pronounces orooro (Yoruba word for vegetable or animal oil) awkwardly. For people who still don’t get it: chances are that you know of somebody who cannot pronounce ‘error’ properly. These people have a faulty pronunciation of ‘r.’ What is it called? Rhotacism.

What is Neem? Well, it is a plant. What about it if I may ask (some Nigerian readers may say)? Neem is the English name for Dogonyaro—virtually every Nigerian should have heard that name before.

Little-known Facts About the Nigerian Civil War

This post contains facts about the Nigerian Civil War that young Nigerians may not know about. This post is not exhaustive in anyway and no post ever will, but attempts will be made to post more 'little-known' facts about the Civil War later.

• The initial plan was to create states in the Eastern Region only. The plan was shelved because it considered unwise, and 12 States were created throughout the country on 27 May 1967.
• Prior to the war, the North had the absolute majority within the rank and file of the Army because of the ethnic quota system. 
• The letters of the name of Head of state of Nigeria, GOWON, came to mean "Go On With One Nigeria" during the war.

List of Misused Words and True Meanings of some Statements

Here is a short list of commonly misused words and the true meanings of some statements. A visitor to Nigeria may be shocked to know that each item on this list has its own special meaning, different from the conventional meaning. Consulting a dictionary will be a waste of time. If you are going to visit Nigeria soon, pay close attention to what each means; if you are a Nigerian, you will get entertainment value. Note that the writer is not unaware of exceptions, but these exceptions only prove the rules

Ultra-modern           

There is hardly a Nigerian who has not come across an ‘ultra-modern’ motor park’. Is there anything modern, not to mention ultra-modern, about these parks? Zilch! They are usually eyesores. These are parks with corrugated roofing sheets of probably the lowest quality (trust Nigerian politicians, they love to cut corners) supported by bamboo or logs. Public toilets are either not maintained or non-existent. If you ever have to answer the call of nature (or use the gent’s or ladies), good luck. It is assumed that there will always be sunshine, so no provision is made for electric bulbs. When you are there, pray that there will be no rain because they usually have poor drainage systems. You are likely going to also have to put up with some noisy NURTW roughnecks and, to cap it, a smelly environment. 

‘I am going abroad to woo investors’

Also used by politicians. It actually means that he/she is going abroad to look for where to stash stolen funds.

'State-of-the-art'

When a product launched or a facility is commissioned, the ritual is usually not complete if ‘state of the art’ is left out. Put succinctly, it is usually the word used by people (deceptively) to call to consumer’s attention a crappy, built-and-used during-the-70’s products or facilities—this will be an appropriate definition. A book about commonly misused words in Nigeria is definitely not worth the sheets of paper used in printing it if a chapter is not dedicated to it.     

‘There is no cause for alarm as everything is under control. We are on top of the situation’

Ironically, when you hear this or something to that effect from a law enforcement officer, then it’s a clarion call to you to take your leave or be extra-vigilant as the problem may be about 'explode.'

‘Armed to the teeth policemen’

When you hear armed to the teeth policemen, don’t be deceive, government hardly cares about their welfare not to talk of properly arming them. What you have is a sorry bunch of ill-equipped, ill-motivated, hungry-looking (usually described incorrectly as stern-looking) policemen with rusty guns (never the type that ‘shys away’ from accidental discharge), standing beside an armoured personnel carrier.

‘Well-stocked library’

If you are looking for ONLY old editions of books, it certainly a good place to start your search. If you are looking for books with the latest in the new field of, say, nanotechnology, you may be shocked to know that no book in the library has the word nanotechnology in it and that the library received its last consignment of books some 30 years ago.

‘What!’

When you hear this, you are watching a Nollywood movie.  

‘I will bounce back’

Usually used by a dishonest politician who has been disgraced, telling you not to write him/her off? Do so at your own peril. Their bounce back rate can be as high as 80%.

‘He is clueless’

Used by critics to refer to no other person than the current president.

‘It is a figment of the imagination of the enemies who are bent on destroying the good works of this government. Mr Governor/President is ever committed to delivering the dividends of democracy to his people and will not be distracted by rabble-rousers.’

This is the typical content of a press release by media assistants to government officials. They are just ‘returning fire.’

‘Mr. Governor/President is not thinking about a second term’

That statement is all you need to know that a second term ambition is in the cards.

                                                          

Random Facts About Nigeria III

Here is another list of interesting facts about Nigeria. Expect something slightly different soon!

• Nigeria is one of a few countries (others are Afghanistan and Pakistan) where polio is still endemic. India was taken off the ‘endemic’ list early this year, though it has not been declared a polio free country yet. North and South America were declared polio-free in 1994. Europe was declared polio-free in 2002.
• The flowers on the base of the Nigerian Coat of Arm are those of Costus spectabilis. It was chosen because it is found throughout Nigeria.
• Nigeria is the second largest importer of rice after Indonesia. It imported 2.1 million tons in 2011.
• Kainji Dam across the Niger River in Nigeria is one of the longest dams in the world. It has a length of about 8 kilometers. Construction lasted 4 years and was completed in 1968. It was officially commissioned by Major General Yakubu Gowon in 1969.
• The Nigerian National Assembly has two chambers: The upper chamber, or Senate, which has 109 seats and the lower chamber, or House of Representative, which has 360 members.
• Kaduna was made the capital of the British colony of Northern Nigeria in 1913.
• Fela (the late Afrobeat singer) was sent to London to study medicine but he opted to study music instead at the Trinity College of Music.
• The National Honours Act No. 5 of 1964 instituted the Nigerian National Honours. Below is a list of the honours in decreasing order of importance:

                Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR)

                Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON)

                Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR)

                Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)

                Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)

                Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)

                Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR)

                Member of the Order of the Niger (MON)

Random Facts About Nigeria II

• Historically, Lagos Island was where the majority of the slave trade returnees from Brazil settled.
• Niger State is the largest state in Nigeria. It has an area of 76,363 square kilometers and was created on 3 February 1976. The second largest is Borno with an area of 70,898 square kilometers.
• The appellation of Yobe State is no longer “The Young Shall Grow”; it is now “The Pride OfThe Sahel.”
• River Niger is the third longest river in Africa. It has a length of about 4,180km and its source is in southeastern Guinea.
• University of Ibadan was founded in 1948 as a college of the University of London and became autonomous in 1962. 
• Nigeria was suspended from the Commonwealth from 1995 to 1999 to protest human rights abuses and the slow rate of democratization by the Abacha government.
• One of Nigeria’s oldest archaeological sites (if not the oldest) is at Iwo Eleru near Akure in southwestern Nigeria. Stone tools and human remains at the site date from 9000 BC.
• British Cameroons was a British Mandate territory in West Africa and the territory was administered as two areas, Northern Cameroons and Southern Cameroons. Following a plebiscite on 11 February 1961, Northern Cameroons became a region of Nigeria on 31 May 1961, while Southern Cameroons became part of the Republic of Cameroon later on 1 October of the same year.
• A recent Supreme Court judgment ceded 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State, effectively removing Cross River State from the list of oil producing states.
• Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-ekeinde hails from Ondo State.
• Maryam Babangida (now late) had a Hausa mother from Niger State and an Igbo father from Asaba, Delta State.
• The cattle market in Potiskum, Yobe State is one of the largest in West Africa. It was attacked by gunmen some months ago.
• Ovonramwen was the last king of the Benin Kingdom. After the British military operation against Benin in 1897 which led to the looting of the city and death of many inhabitants, Ovonramwen was exiled to Calabar with his two wives, and died there in 1914. 

Random Facts About Nigeria

                

• The Highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi (a mountain located in Taraba State, near the border with Cameroun) at 2,419m. Dimlang(Vogel) Peak on Shebshi Mountains (in Adamawa State) comes a close second at 2,042m.

• Modibbo is the Fulani word for Professor.

• The founder of the Sokoto caliphate, Usman dan Fodio, wrote nearly 100 texts in Arabic.

• Julius Berger, the construction giant, built Eko Bridge (its first project in Nigeria), Third Mainland Bridge and Abuja Stadium.

• River Benue, longest tributary of River Niger, rises in northern Cameroon.

• Professor Andrew Jonathan Nok(of Ahmadu  Bello University, Zaria,) discovered the gene responsible for the creation of Sialidase (SD), an enzyme which causes sleeping sickness (Trypanosomiasis). 

• In 1969, while the civil war was still ongoing, General Yakubu Gowon got married to Ms. Victoria Zakari. This was considered distasteful by many, including war commanders.

• The Dufuna Canoe was discovered by a Fulani herdsman in May 1987, in Dufuna Village while digging a well. Radiocarbon dating tests conducted indicates that it is over 8,000 years old, thus making it the oldest in Africa and 3rd oldest in the World. Egypt's oldest known boat is 5,000 years old. The canoe measures 8.4 meters in length, 0.5cm wide and 5cm thick and both ends of the canoe are pointed. 

Pic of Dufuna Canoe

• The first nationwide census was conducted in 1921. Other censuses conducted before this one were not nationwide. Earlier ones were conducted in Lagos colony in 1866, 1871, 1881, 1901.

• Tai Solarin was an atheist. Tai Solarin once said that "black people hold onto their God just as the drunken man holds on to the street lamp post—for physical support only.” He established Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State in 1956. Visit here for an interesting biography of Tai Solarin.

• Taio cruz, the British singer, was born to a Nigerian father.

• Thing Fall Apart (by Chinua Achebe) has been translated into over 50 languages.