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.