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11 Facts You Should Know About Nigeria as It Celebrates 60 Years of Independence

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Global Citizen’s mission to end extreme poverty by 2030 and ultimately fulfil Global Goal 1 for zero poverty includes our work in Nigeria, where almost 50% of the population live in extreme poverty. Global CItizen is already supporting Nigeria’s vulnerable people through the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) – join us to support disadvantaged Nigerians by taking action here.

On Oct. 1, Nigeria celebrates its Diamond Jubilee — marking 60 years since the country became an independent nation with the end of colonial rule…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

With an estimated population of about 204 million people, Nigeria today is the most populous Black nation on Earth and the seventh most populous country in the world.

There is so much to learn about Nigeria, its people, and its cultures. With so much history and cultural richness, there are many lessons to be learned from Nigeria’s impact on the African continent and the world at large. Global Citizen celebrates the resilience and ingenuity of the Nigerian people on this historic and important day.

Here are 11 historical facts you should know about the country often referred to as the “Giant of Africa”:

1. Nigeria was formed in 1914.

The land area known today as Nigeria was formed in 1914 when colonial authorities merged the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria, to form the amalgamated Protectorate and Colony of Nigeria.

This merger brought together over 400 ethnic groups and tribes into what was then the largest British colony in the world. The name “Nigeria” is also derived from colonial sources.

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2. Nigeria gained independence from colonial rule in 1960.

Nigeria gained independence from the British empire in 1960, initially adopting a British style of government with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as the first Nigerian head of government (prime minister). The country then had a population of over 45 million people.

3. Nigeria has been ruled by military leaders for a combined 29 years.

On Jan. 15 1966, a group of young, idealistic, UK-trained army majors overthrew Nigeria’s democratic government in a violent military coup — the country’s first.

A succession of increasingly repressive military governments ruled Nigeria for 29 of the next 33 years, until the restoration of democracy in 1999.

Some of the blowback effects of this coup include:

  • the secessionist Biafra movement;
  • it propelled a group of young military officers onto the national stage and they still wield enormous influence in Nigerian politics;
  • corruption — the military decreed that all natural resources be controlled by the state, which has entrenched the do-or-die nature of Nigerian politics;
  • the army’s politicised past means that Nigerians live with the (real or imagined) fear that a coup is a possible outcome of any political crisis.

4. The Nigerian civil war started in 1967. 

In 1967, following two coups and turmoil that led to about a million Igbos (one of Nigeria’s most-populous ethnic groups primarily from the Eastern region of the country) returning to the south-east of Nigeria, the Republic of Biafra seceded.

The Nigerian government declared war and after 30 months of fighting, Biafra surrendered. On Jan. 15 1970, the conflict officially ended.

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5. Nigeria’s oil boom began in the 1970s.

Oil profitability in Nigeria was greatest during the 1970s, when it became the wealthiest country in Africa.

Within two years, state profit increased by almost 50%, to an all-time high of N5.3 billion in 1976. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Nigeria bolstered profits when it joined the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1971, and the discovery of oil is widely believed to have influenced the course of the civil war.

6. A Nigerian was the first African recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature. 

Wole Soyinka was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, which he won in 1986, and he is also a prominent social critic and political activist.

As an activist, he has been a voice for justice, freedom, and the end of tyranny. He has risked his life again and again to articulate the principles that provide the foundation for human rights, both in his native Nigeria and around the world.

7. Nigeria won its first Olympic gold medal in 1996.

Nigeria’s most successful Olympic outing was the 1996 Olympics, with the men’s football team winning Gold, and Chioma Ajunwa also winning a Gold medal in the women’s long jump event.

In total that year, Nigeria won two Gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals.

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8. Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999.

The 1999 transition of Nigeria from military to civilian, democratic government, was a defining moment in Nigerian history, representing the beginning of the longest, uninterrupted government since Independence in 1960.

The presidential election took place in February 1999, and Olusegun Obasanjo, who as head of state in 1976–79 had overseen the last transition from military rule, was declared the winner.

9. Nigerian model Agbani Darego was the first African woman to win the Miss World pageant

Rivers State-born Agbani Darego was the first African woman to win the Miss World pageant — entering the history books with her victory in 2001.

Darego has worked with top brands such as Avon, Christian Dior, Sephora, Target, and Macy’s and appeared in world famous magazines such as Elle, Marie Claire, Allure, Trace, Stitch, Cosmopolitan, and Essence. She remains Nigeria’s most famous beauty queen.

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10. Nigeria became Africa’s largest economy in 2013/4.

In April 2014 — looking back at the previous financial year — the statistics bureau of Nigeria confirmed the rebasing of the Nigerian economy’s gross domestic product (GDP) to $509.9 billion.

This placed it well above South Africa’s nominal GDP of $322 billion and elevated Nigeria to the position of the largest economy in Africa.

11. Nigerians became the first Africans to qualify for the Olympics bobsledding event in 2018.

Three Nigerian-American women — Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere, and Akuoma Omeoga — made history and their Olympic dreams come true by being the first-ever African bobsled team to qualify for the Olympics. They were also the first Nigerian athletes to compete in a Winter Olympics event.


Nigeria is home to the greatest number of people living in extreme poverty in the world — meaning that efforts to tackle extreme poverty and its systemic causes in the country are vital to the Global Goals’ mission to end extreme poverty by 2030. You can join the movement to empower and protect vulnerable Nigerians by taking action here.

 

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Nurse noticed something hidden in woman who was in a 14 year coma, ‘she alerted the doctor who made a troubling discovery’!

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According to the health officials, the difference between being in a coma and being in a vegetative state is that a patient in a coma is completely unresponsive, does not react to light or sound, cannot feel pain and whose eyes remain closed.

Comas normally last for a finite period of time – days, weeks or even months. A patient in a vegetative state is still unconscious, but such a condition can be characterized by involuntary eye movement, teeth-grinding and facial expressions. Some patients in a vegetative state can remain so for years or indefinitely.

Per reports, the young woman who has been in coma for 14 years, got pregnant and gave birth at the nursing facility. This has led to police launching an investigation into the possible se* abuse of the patient…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

The woman stunned workers when she went into labor because they didn’t even know she was pregnant. The woman has been in a vegetative state for at least 14 years after a near-drowning incident.

An employee at the facility, who didn’t want her name or face being used, said staff could not believe what was unfolding inside the victim’s room. “How could it happen? And just anger and sadness, and sick to my stomach,” the employee said.

“None of the staff were aware that she was pregnant until she was pretty much giving birth.” READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

In a statement, the health care facility said it would also conduct an “internal review” to evaluate patient safety. “As an organization, HHC stands fully committed to getting to the truth of what, for us, represents an unprecedented matter,” spokeswoman Salmon said.

“We are already conducting a comprehensive internal review of our processes, protocols, and people to ensure that every single resident is as safe and well cared for as possible. Anything less than that is unacceptable to our team, our company’s leaders and the communities we serve.”

The woman, who gave birth to a boy, is a member of the local Apache Tribe and has long been in a vegetative state, the tribe’s chairman said. Outlets are not reporting the woman’s name because she is the victim of se-ual abuse.

“When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent upon others, you trust their caretakers,” Chairman Rambler said. Police detectives served a search warrant seeking DNA from men who work there.

Shortly after, a 36-year-old nurse, Nathan, has been arrested on suspicion of impregnating the woman. Nathan, a licensed practical nurse who was caring for the woman at the facility, has been charged with one count of se-ual assault and one count of vulnerable adult abuse, according to CNN.

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This boy was neglected and was about to die, ‘then a miracle change his life’!

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They are the reason so many amazing people dedicate their lives to caring for orphans and children in foster care. They are also the reason we not only need adoption, but also we need it to be the best version of it possible.
The love and dedication from Priscilla and her husband David for a starving boy is going to make you shed some tears today- so keep a few tissues handy…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

When the amazing woman saw a photo of baby Ryan who weighed only 8-lbs at 7 years of age, but now, because of her love and sincerity, Ryan and his life has taken a positive turn. David and Priscilla have 2 biological sons of their own, but they decided to open their hearts and home to a little girl from Russia named McKenzie.

The 3-year-old had Down syndrome and a heart condition, but the Morses had no problem with that. They thought they were done adopting, but then, few years later, Priscilla saw a photo she couldn’t forget. The photo was of a starving boy so malnourished, he looked more like a baby than a 6-year-old.

The boy, they later named Ryan, was literally wasting away in an orphanage and wasn’t supposed to live long unless someone adopted him and Priscilla decided that she would be the one. She felt God calling her to bring Ryan home, “I don’t know how to describe it, but you look at them and you just know,” Priscilla said. “We had decided long ago that if we were going to adopt, it was going to be the kids no one was coming for – kids in Third World countries who are locked away in orphanages.”

Thankfully her husband David too was onboard with saving baby Ryan, and the couple began the process of another international adoption. Several months later, everything was set for Ryan to come live with the family, and Priscilla flew to Bulgaria, ready to bring her new son home.

Priscilla said. “We had decided long ago that if we were going to adopt, it was going to be the kids no one was coming for – kids in Third World countries who are locked away in orphanages.”

Thankfully her husband David too was onboard with saving baby Ryan, and the couple began the process of another international adoption. Several months later, everything was set for Ryan to come live with the family, and Priscilla flew to Bulgaria, ready to bring her new son home.

Ryan was 7 years old, and weighed only 8 pounds. “He was bones and skin,” Priscially recalled. “He literally looked like a skeleton. The first thing that went through my head was, ‘he’s going to die’.” Ryan had many medical problems, like cerebral palsy, club feet, scoliosis, and microcephaly — a birth defect that affects brain growth and head size. Getting him prompt medical attention was crucial for any hope in saving baby Ryan. Once they were back in the United States, Priscilla and David rushed Ryan to the Children’s Hospital.

“I had never in my life seen doctors look at a child and burst into tears,” Priscilla says. She said, “They all said there was no way that this kid should still have been alive.” Ryan spent a month in the hospital and Doctors weren’t sure he was going to make it, they found he suffered from refeeding syndrome, a condition making it difficult for his body to digest nutrients it wasn’t used to consuming.

Instead, he’d just throw his food back up. “It was intense for a long time,” Priscilla says, “and I think you kind of guard yourself against just how serious it is so you can push through every day and do what you have to do.” READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Ryan had many medical problems, like cerebral palsy, club feet, scoliosis, and microcephaly — a birth defect that affects brain growth and head size. Getting him prompt medical attention was crucial for any hope in saving baby Ryan. Once they were back in the United States, Priscilla and David rushed Ryan to the Children’s Hospital.

“I had never in my life seen doctors look at a child and burst into tears,” Priscilla says. She said, “They all said there was no way that this kid should still have been alive.” Ryan spent a month in the hospital and Doctors weren’t sure he was going to make it, they found he suffered from refeeding syndrome, a condition making it difficult for his body to digest nutrients it wasn’t used to consuming.

Instead, he’d just throw his food back up. “It was intense for a long time,” Priscilla says, “and I think you kind of guard yourself against just how serious it is so you can push through every day and do what you have to do.”

Even with all the challenges and special medical needs, the Morse never gave up on saving baby Ryan. Doctors fitted Ryan with a feeding tube, which helped him get the nutrition he so desperately needed. Soon he grew stronger, and the doctors were able to address other conditions of Ryan’s and after some years, his complete transformation was amazing! Ryan’s clubbed feet and spinal rod placement were rectified and proper nutrition helped him come out of his newborn clothing to a child’s size 5/6.

He also made significant gains with speech and communication and now has a full range of motion in his hands. Priscilla says Ryan’s doctors and therapists are hopeful the boy will continue to thrive and reach his full potential. It’s going to be a long process,” she says. “Seven years of neglect can’t be undone in a day.”

Although Ryan still has a long road ahead of him, his progress is proof enough to never give up. “Everyone deserves a family,” Priscilla says. “No one should be written off if they have special needs just because it’s going to be hard. Life is hard anyway, so you adjust and you learn, because these kids – they are so worthy.”

Soon he grew stronger, and the doctors were able to address other conditions of Ryan’s and after some years, his complete transformation was amazing! Ryan’s clubbed feet and spinal rod placement were rectified and proper nutrition helped him come out of his newborn clothing to a child’s size 5/6.

He also made significant gains with speech and communication and now has a full range of motion in his hands. Priscilla says Ryan’s doctors and therapists are hopeful the boy will continue to thrive and reach his full potential. It’s going to be a long process,” she says. “Seven years of neglect can’t be undone in a day.”

Although Ryan still has a long road ahead of him, his progress is proof enough to never give up. “Everyone deserves a family,” Priscilla says. “No one should be written off if they have special needs just because it’s going to be hard. Life is hard anyway, so you adjust and you learn, because these kids – they are so worthy.”

 

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When mother heard moaning from her baby’s monitor, ‘she rushed in and saved her life’!

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Every parent strives to protect their baby, nourishing them, buying the appropriate gear, and yes, monitoring them around the clock. Today’s baby monitors make it easy to hover. Some devices detect heart rate, oxygen levels and fever.

Others alert you if your child’s cry reaches a certain decibel level. Navigating life with an infant can be stressful and exhausting. In fact, most parents are still sleep deprived when their baby begins sleeping through the night.

Roy and Bernita never wanted anything more than to have a baby. The couple couldn’t conceive for a long time – Bernita had 3 premature babies and decided to just give up…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

 

It wasn’t an easy decision, but she thought it’s impossible for her to have a child. After her third premature baby, Bernita and Roy found a tiny kitten on their doorstep.

They took the kitten in and washed him, then fed him and weren’t sure if they want to keep it. They slept on it and decided to take the kitty with them, naming him Midnight.

Midnight wanted nothing more than to cuddle with his parents. Even though the kitty was black, it didn’t bring them bad luck at all.

As a matter of fact, it brought them luck. Bernita was finally able to deliver a healthy daughter they named Stacey, and believes it was a miracle. Midnight fell in love with the new family member.

He watched Stacey getting taken from room to room and kept the baby company all the time. After six weeks, however, Stacey came down with something. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Bernita took her baby daughter to a doctor who said it was nothing more than a cold. Bernita took Stacey home and put her down for a nap. She couldn’t have imagined what would follow.

As soon as the baby was in the crib, Midnight started jumping in and out of Bernita’s lap. The woman was tired at that point until Midnight rushed away to Stacey’s room.

Strangely, the cat started making disturbing screeching sounds over the baby monitor. Bernita was scared and ran upstairs, seeing Midnight leaning over the crib.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing – Stacey was struggling to breathe and blue in the face, moments away from dying! She immediately took Stacey to the doctor where her life was saved.

As it turns out, the baby went into respiratory failure that could have ended fatally if it wasn’t for Midnight. Bernita thanked Midnight for what he did all the time.

 

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