29 May: Nigeria Democracy Day

Democracy day is a public holiday In Nigeria. Here are ten things you may not have known about Nigeria:

1. Nigeria is often referred to as the "Giant of Africa" because it has a large population and successful economy. As of 2015, Nigeria is the world's 20th largest economy. It has a population of 162.5 million people. 2.35% of the world's population, or one out of every 43 people on the planet is Nigerian.
2. As well as a lot of people, there are also a lot of species of butterfly, more than any other country in the world. Most of the Butterflies live in the region of Calabar, Cross River State.
3. The name Nigeria comes from the Niger River running through the country. The Niger Delta is the second largest delta on the planet.
4. Archaeologists believe humans have lived in Nigeria since 9,000 BC, with the Nok civilization being the oldest in existence. Africa's oldest known boat, the Dufuna Canoe, was discovered by a Fulani Herdsmen in Dufuna, Yobe.
5. The richest man in Africa, and the richest black person in the world, lives in Nigeria. His name is Aliko Dangote; he's worth an estimated $12 billion. He is a commodities tycoon.
6. The capital city is Abuja and the largest city is Lagos.
7. The highest point in Nigeria is Chappal Waddi at 2,419 m (7,936 ft).
8. The Yoruba people are one of Nigeria's main ethnic groups. They have the highest rate of non-identical Twins in the world - 45–50 twin sets per 1,000 live births. This is thought to be because they eat a lot of a specific type of yam which contains a natural phytoestrogen which may stimulate the ovaries to release an egg from each side. The first of the twins to be born is traditionally named Taiyewo, which means 'the first to taste the world', often shortened to Taiwo, Taiye or Taye. The traditional name for the younger twin is Kehinde, which is short for Omokehindegbegbon and means, 'the child that came last gets the rights of the eldest'.
9. So Taiwo Akinkunmi, who designed the national flag at the age of 23, when he was studying at Norwich Technical College, may have been the first of a set of twins. His was the winning entry in a competition in 1959, although his design included a badge in the centre which the judges removed. The Flag consists of two Green stripes representing Nigeria's natural wealth, with a white band in the middle, which represents peace.
10. Nigeria's film industry, known as Nollywood, is now the 2nd-largest producer of movies in the world.