Nigeria can boast of Nollywood – one of the largest film industries in the world today. Nigerian cinema is Africa's largest movie industry in terms of both value and the number of movies produced per year. The Music industry is also a growing entertainment with the like of P Square, D’banj, Ice-Prince, Omawumi,Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Asa, Fela Kuti and many more.
Population
According to the World Bank, Nigeria’s population stands at 162,470,737 due to high fertility rates. This is a product of our culture. We live in a culture-assisted reproductive community. It is in most tradition to have as many children or wives as you can. However, this trend is depleting as many Nigerians are educated and abandoning most traditional beliefs.
Marriage
By far, marriage is one of the most important social cultures of Nigeria. Apart from the respect and need to start a family, Nigerians marry to publicly display and declare their love. Display is a huge trend in marriages – such that these marriages are very beautiful, colourful, expensive and well-planned.The average middle class marriage in Nigeria cost about 2-4 Million Naira ($12000-$25000). Wedding & marriages are different topics that I won’t discuss for now. But, I throw out this question. Have you ever been to a Nigerian Wedding, what was your experience?
Family
Our family nurtures our culture in Nigeria. You learn so much from your family and culture such as how to cook, speak your language and most of all a good behaviour. Respect is a key training you receive at home and thus expected to carry it everywhere you go. Large families are very common in Nigeria(remember my earlier statement about culture-assisted reproduction) and offspring’s are considered to be the main function of marriages. Thus, most children grow up with their parents gaining the psychological and moral advantage of having your parents around. Divorce rates are massively low.
Food
With so many ethnic groups/culture you can expect so many types of food. Every group has a different way of cooking. Nigerian foods are spicy mostly in the West and South of the country, the North typically prefer less spicy food. Traditional dishes of the South & West are Akpu, Eba, Pounded Yam, Semolina, and Fufu with soups like Ogbono, Okra, Edikang Ikong, and Egusi. The North is known for flavoured /dry dishes such as Masa, Akara and Pate/Acha. However, every Nigerian loves Jollof rice, rice & stew and Suya (meat Kebab) - The list goes on, but these are the most common.
Nigeria is a wonderful place to visit or live. Apart from the tourist attractions such as Obudu Ranch,Yankari Game Reserve, Matsirga Waterfalls and many more, the people of Nigeria are wonderful,warm and welcoming. Jos, Plateau State remains the tourist capital of the whole of Northern Nigeria.The State boasts of a temperate weather (21 -25 °C), tourist attraction (Wase Rock, Assop Falls etc.),Nok Terracotta Sculpture (1000BC Old) and is known as the “Home of Peace and Tourism”.Popular celebrities such as Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC) and P Square (Popular Musical Duo) all had their childhood in Jos.Even the author of this blog had his National Youth Service orientation in Bukuru,Jos.Nevertheless the city has witnessed some of the most deadly clashes recently between Muslims & Christians that has claimed so many lives. Peace is returning steadily.
Yes, there are a few security issues/poverty/radicals in Nigeria, but the fact still remains that terrorism is in the whole world today and that shouldn't stop people from travelling or enjoying their lives. If you would like to visit some cities in Nigeria I’d suggest you visit Abuja, Port Harcourt,Osun & Lagos. There are many more, but these are the popular tourist destinations in Nigeria.
Above all remember that Nigeria is a great nation and its citizens are good people.
Written by Alfred Achoba
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