Nigeria Flag

The flag of Nigeria consists of three equally sized vertical bands of green, white, and green. In 1959, the government of Nigeria held a competition and placed newspaper advertisements around the world in order to find their new flag. This flag was officially adopted by the country on 1 October 1960, the same day that independence from the United Kingdom was declared.

According to the designer of the flag, the green bands are a symbol of the agriculture in Nigeria which has provided the Nigerian people with food for centuries. The white central band is representative of the peace and unity found in the new republic of Nigeria. The Flag and Coat-of-Arms Ordinance of 1960 states the correct use and the symbolic importance of the national flag.

The national flag of Nigeria was designed by Taiwo Akinkunmi, commonly referred to as "flag man" by many in the country. This design was submitted by Akinkunmi to the government of Nigeria while he was studying engineering at Norwood Technical College in London. The Nigerian government, who were preparing for their independent republic to become a reality, approved the design in 1959, one year before the official adoption of the new flag. Akinkunmi won 100 pounds for his effort as well as a place in the history books of Nigeria.

There are nine previous flags of the region or country that have been used since 1887 when the Royal Niger Company established trading routes and a colony in Nigeria. All nine of these flags feature the Union Jack in the top left-hand corner which reflects the colonial ties between the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The flag of the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria was used from 1914-1960 and is the most recognized symbol of past colonial rule.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Abuja
Languages	English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages
Ethnic Groups	Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the most populous and politically influential are: Hausa and the Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religion	Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Government	Federal presidential republic
Independance	1 October 1960 (from the UK)
Area	923,768.00 km²
Water Area	13,000.00 km²
Land Area	910,768.00 km²
Population	186,053,386.00
Location	Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Benin 809 km, Cameroon 1,975 km, Chad 85 km, Niger 1,608 km
GDP(PPP)	$1,090,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$5,900.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are India, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are petroleum, cocoa, and rubber.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, the United States, and the Netherlands.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, and manufactured goods.
Climate	Varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain	Southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Learn More	Nigeria

Nigeria Flag

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