Did You Know

Interesting Facts about Nigeria

Trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits about Nigeria.

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Did You Know?

12 curious facts about Nigeria.

When a child loses a tooth they hold their tooth in their fist with eight stones to make a total of nine (a girl will hold six stones and her tooth to make seven). Next, they close their eyes and say their name out loud, count to the number in their fist, and say “Oh, I want my tooth back!” Then they throw them and run away. It is very important to run away.
Nigeria's population is the largest in Africa.
The name Nigeria was suggested by the British journalist Flora Shaw. It refers to the Niger River.
Nigerians are very proud of traditional titles. One of the most sought-after titles in Nigeria is Chief, which is considered more important than a doctoral degree.

It is a common practice to bargain for goods in Nigerian markets. Bargaining requires great skill. The shopper must know the latest prices.
Many Nigerians have entered the world of sports in North America. Hakeem Olajuwan, who plays basketball for Houston Rockets, is Nigerian. Dave Defiagbo, who was born in Nigeria, won the silver medal in boxing for Canada in the 1996 Olympics.
In many homes in Nigeria, people clean their teeth using chewing sticks. Some of the chewing sticks have anti-microbial effects.
Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria is one of the largest universities in Africa.
It is considered bad manners to receive anything with the left hand. Usually gifts are received with both hands.
The Kola nut is an important symbol in the Nigerian belief system. Breaking the Kola nut is part of any welcoming ceremony. Among the Ibos, the Kola nut is broken by the youngest person present. Among the Yoruba and Edo it is broken by the oldest person. “He who brings Kola nut brings life” is a popular expression in many parts of Nigeria.