Nigeria Profile

Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most populous nation in the world with 206.1 million citizens (2020), is situated in West Africa with a coast line on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Benin to its west, Chad and Cameroon to its east and Niger to the north. As ever, following independence from the UK on 1st October 1960, political instability ensued with coups and counter coups many of which were due to various ethnic groups wanting independence from a country they held little allegiance to and, even today, Nigeria suffers from ongoing ethnic, tribal and religious tensions that regularly spill out into open conflict. These tensions reflect the fact that most Nigerians see themselves as belonging to the Yoruba (westerners), Igbo (easterners) and Hausa (northerners) rather than Nigeria itself. The situation is most chronic in the north-east of the country with regular attacks against Christians being carried out by Boko Haram, a fundamentalist Islamic group with suspected links to with Al Qaeda, who are committed to the establishment of strict Sharia law throughout Nigeria.

Despite significant oil wealth, most of which bypasses the population into the hands of wealthy oil companies resulting in the establishment of groups such as MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) which is committed to taking the oil industry back for the local Nigerian people and using revenues to help clear up the environmental disaster in the Delta, 40%, or 83 million, Nigerians live in poverty (2020).

In terms of education, the Nigerian government reported in 2021 that an estimated 10,193,918 children were out school making Nigeria the country with the highest number of Out-of-School Children in sub-Sahara Africa. There are many reasons for this, however a major factor is the number of children (an estimated twelve million between the ages of 10-14yrs) who are forced into domestic servitude; some even sold to keep their family's head above water with Gabon, Cameroon, Niger, Italy, Spain, Benin and Saudi Arabia being known destinations. Some parents sell their children in the belief that they will have a better life away from often single houses in urban areas that are home to up to ten other families with no private space, bedrooms and shared sanitation facilities. Most Nigerian woman have 5.32 children (2019). For more about Nigeria check out our profile articles below.

Nigeria Profile: Volunteer in Nigeria

Check out all the latest fee paying and free African volunteer work placements and charity work job opportunities abroad with local projects and volunteering organisations in Nigeria.

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Nigeria Profile: Nigeria History

Exploring the recent history of Nigeria, the challenges the country faces and the causes of ethnic tensions together with a Nigerian history video documentary.

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Nigeria Profile: Life in Nigeria

Facts about daily life in Nigeria, an oil rich country where 40% or 83m Nigerians live in poverty, together with a village life in Nigeria video.

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Nigeria Profile: Nigeria Children

About life for children in Nigeria in facts, information and video where an estimated twelve million children are forced into domestic servitude together with details of projects and programs to support children in the country.

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Nigeria Profile: Street Children Nigeria

About street children in Nigeria in facts, figures and video together with details of projects and programs supporting street children in Nigeria.

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Nigeria Profile: Abuja Profile

A complete profile of Abuja, the purpose built capital city of Nigeria, including Abuja information, facts, pictures and tourist attractions.

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Nigeria Profile: Lagos Profile

Exploring life inside the city of Lagos in Nigeria today, the former capital city of Nigeria, together with a video documentary about Lagos.

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Nigeria Profile: Lagos Airport

Make a virtual landing at Lagos International Airport, Murtala Mohammed, named after the fourth military ruler of Nigeria in this video where many will enter Nigeria for their vounteering experience.

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Nigeria Profile: Niger Delta

The Niger Delta occupies 7.5% of the total land area of Nigeria and was historically a major producer of palm oil with traders living in the area using the Delta and the River Niger as a centre for inland trade for oil and outward trade for slaves.

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Nigeria Profile: Nigeria Quiz