Nigeria

Nigeria

1. Social

   • Multiethnic and multifaith.
     • Social diversity.
     • A great strength to the country, but has also been a source of conflict.
   • Economic inequality between the N & S.
     • Unstable situation has created and unstable situation.
       • Reduction in investment from abroad .
     • Created new religious and ethnic tensions.

2. Cultural

   • Diverse population = a rich & varied culture.
     • Music.
     • Literature.
     • Sport.
       • Football team is successful.
     • Cinema.
       • Nollywood.
         • 2nd largest film industry.

3. Political

   • Africa's political map was drawn by a small group of powerful European countries.
     • At the Berlin conference in 1883.
     • Many country boarders are straight lines.
     • Europeans exploited Africa's resources.
       • Including people (slaves).
   • In the 1960s, many African countries gained independence.
     • Nigeria became fully independent from the UK in 1960.
       • Bitter power struggles resulted in dictatorships & civil war.
       • Lack of political stability affected Nigeria's development.
         • Led to widespread corruption.
   • Only since 1990, that Nigeria has had a stable government.
     • Several countries are now investing in Nigeria.

4. Environmental

   • Nigeria's natural environment form a series of bands across the country.
     • Reflects the decreasing rainfall towards the N in West Africa,
     • These environmental regions extend to the E & W of Nigeria,
     • To the N is the Sahel & Sahara Desert.

5. Regional

   • Huge variations in levels of wealth and development.
     • Encourages widespread rural-urban migration.
     • Urban areas have a greater share of public services & facilities.
       • 60% children in urban areas attend secondary school, only 36% in rural.
   • Variation in GDP per person.
     • Generally higher in the S, due to the Niger Delta, higher rainfall & oil reserves.
     • Lower in the semi-arid N, with drought, desertification & lack of resources.
       • The growing threat from the militant Islamic group Boko Haram is limiting economic growth.