The Name Nigeria

Nigeria as a name was given by Mrs. Flora Shaw in 1898; it came from the word Niger. The word Niger, itself comes from the word Nigger, which means black. Mrs. Flora Shaw later married to the first Governor General of Nigeria by name Sir Fredrick Lord Luguard. He came to Nigeria in 1912, joined the Northern and Southern Protectorate together in 1914 and died in 1945.


Motto: Unity, Faith, Peace and Progress.

Area: 356,669 sq mi (923,768 sq km)

Population: 140,003,542

Capital: Abuja

Other Cities: Lagos, Onitsha, Enugu, Jos, Ibadan, Kaduna, Kano, Benin City, Ogbomosho.

Form Of Government: Federal Republic

Religion: Islam, Christianity, African traditional religion

Language: English and French

Currency: Naira

Independence: 1st October, 1960

Colonial Master: Britain