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.
• Nigeria is home to a rare species of monkey, the drill monkey, which is only found in Cross River National Park in Southeast Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.
• Nigeria supplies about one fifth of the oil required by the United States of America.
• Nigeria was once the world’s leading exporter of agricultural products such as cocoa, groundnuts,and palm oil.
• 60% of the Nigerians still work in the agricultural sector.
• It is thought that the Bantu people occupying Central and Southern Africa migrated from the area around Benue and Cross River states between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium.
• It was during the military presidency of  General Ibrahim Babangida that Nigeria became a full member of  the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
• Nigeria is ranked 31st in the world in terms of GDP (purchasing power parity) as of 2011.
• Nigeria became the first African country in April 2006 to completely pay off its debt (about $30 billion) owed to the Paris Club.
• Nigeria has vast areas of arable land. About 60% of Nigerians work in the agricultural sector.
• Till date, four satellites have been launched by the Nigeria into space.
• It is the only country in Africa to still have the polio problem. It is sometimes transferred to other countries.
• Ibadan (city in Southwestern Nigeria) was formerly called Eba-Odan, meaning a town at the edge of the forest.
• Ogun State has a total of nine registered universities, the highest of any state in Nigeria.
• Yaba virus (named after Yaba in Lagos State) causes Yaba tumours in monkeys.
• Ogun State has the highest number of universities of  any state in Nigeria.