NIGERIA: LOOKING BEYOND CNN AND BBC – FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE NATION’S YOUTH: NIGERIA: LOOKING BEYOND CNN AND BBC – FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE NATION’S YOUTH


INTRODUCTION: INTRODUCTION Presenters Chinedum Okwudire (secretary NYG) Ikponwosa “I.K” Ero (president NYG) NIGERIAN YOUTH GROUP- BC


MOTIVATION: MOTIVATION Understanding Nigeria from Nigerians’ point of view Appreciating why the Nation’s youth see a hope for their country Imbibing objectivity through showing the other side of the coin


OUTLINE: OUTLINE Brief overview Historical timeline of the country Relevant Statistics/Information Government Peoples and Religion Food and Music General information


BRIEF OVERVIEW: BRIEF OVERVIEW Located in West Africa – surrounded Benin Rep., Niger, Cameroon Current capital is Abuja (Lagos till 1991) Tropical climate with two seasons: wet and dry Total land area: 927,770 sq.km


HISTORICAL TIMELINE: HISTORICAL TIMELINE Various kingdoms existed before colonial rule: Kanem-Bornu, Benin, Oyo. 1861-1914: British build a colony which is amalgamated in 1914 to form “Nigeria” – Area of the Niger Gains independence in 1960 – Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa chosen as Prime Minister Becomes a Republic in 1963 – Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe chosen as President Military coup in Jan, 1966 – Major-Gen. J. Aguiyi-Ironsi heads military administration Balewa Azikiwe Ironsi


HISTORICAL TIMELINE: HISTORICAL TIMELINE July 1966, another military coup. Ironsi killed, Gen. Y. Gowon takes over. Secession by three eastern states to form Biafra sparks bloody civil war from 1967-1970 Nigeria adopts her own currency – the Naira; changes to traffic from left to right. 1975: Gowon overthrown by Brigadier Murtala Mohammed Mohammed assassinated in failed coup (1976). Lt. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo takes over. Introduces American-style constitution Gowon Naira Obasanjo


HISTORICAL TIMELINE: HISTORICAL TIMELINE 1979: Gowon hands over to democratically elected Alh. Shehu Shagari 1983: Nigeria expels over a million foreigners, mostly Ghanians, saying they have overstayed their visas. Shagari overthrown by Maj. Gen Muhammed Buhari in a bloodless coup. Buhari overthrown in a bloodless coup by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in 1985. 1990: Nigeria spearheads the formation of ECOMOG 1993: Military annuls election won by Moshood Abiola; transfers power to interim government. Shagari Buhari Babangida Abiola


HISTORICAL TIMELINE: HISTORICAL TIMELINE 1993: Gen. Sani Abacha seizes power and suppresses opposition 1994: Abiola arrested after proclaiming himself President Ken Saro-Wiwa executed following hasty trial; EU imposes sanction and Commonwealth suspends Nigeria till 1998 1996: Nigeria wins first Olympic gold medals in long jump and soccer 1998: Abacha dies; Interim government takes over; Abiola dies in jail 1999: Parliamentary and presidential elections held; Obasanjo becomes civilian president; re-elected in 2003 Abacha Saro-Wiwa Ajunwa Obasanjo


RELEVANT STATISTICS/INFO: RELEVANT STATISTICS/INFO Currently 36 states Abuja is FCT The Nigerian Flag Coat of Arms National Motto Unity, Strength, Peace and Progress National Anthem Arise O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey To serve our fatherland with love and strength and faith, The Labour of our Heroes past shall never be in vain To serve with heart and might, one nation bound in Freedom, Peace and Unity Stanza 2: O God of Creation, direct our noble cause Guide our leaders right; help our youth the truth to know In love and honesty to grow and living just and true, Great lofty heights attain, to build a nation where peace and Justice shall reign


RELEVANT STATISTICS/INFO: RELEVANT STATISTICS/INFO Population: 137,253,133 Annual Population Growth: 2.5% Birth Rate: 38% per 1000 persons Death Rate: 14% per 1000 persons HIV Rate: 5% (3.6 million persons) Life Expectancy at Birth: 51 GDP per capita: $319 Other Facts Main export: Crude oil (accounts for 20% of GDP and 95% of foreign exchange earnings) – 7th largest exporter of crude oil in the world


RELEVANT STATISTICS/INFO: RELEVANT STATISTICS/INFO 60% of population is said to live under $1 per day 40% unemployed (real unemployment rate 2.7% Debt is 27% of GDP Inflation is a major challenge especially with high wage demands Lack of necessary infrastructure New Govt is facing challenges with Privatization, foreign direct investment, and attempts at psychological changes through monetization GDP is bound to rise a bit in 2004


GOVERNMENT: GOVERNMENT Federal Government Executive Legislative Judicial State Government Local Government Cabinet Military


GOVERNMENT: GOVERNMENT Major Checks On the Government Artists, musicians and writers (including journalists) Academics Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Human Right Activists You and me (through international petitions and pressures


GOVERNMENT: GOVERNMENT Cultural Branches of the Government (De Facto & De Jure) Corruption Education (Formal & Informal (family and culture)


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups; Each group has its own cultural practices Official language is English Common language is “Pigeon English” Major ethnic groups: Hausa (20%) Yoruba (20%) Ibo (17%) Fulani (9%) Others include: Edo, Efik, Ibibio, Ogoni, Ijaw, Tiv …


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Typical Busy day in Lagos


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION A Woman from the Benin Ethnic Group


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Two Women in a Traditional Attire


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Women Pounding Food


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION A Northern Nigeria Girl


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION A Village Family


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Mask Carving


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Maiden Performing Traditional Dance Mama Kofo Selling Indigo Cloth


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Nigeria has less than1% atheists A study, carried out between 1999 and 2001, and published in the British New Scientist magazine, said the happiest people in the world live in Nigeria… Christianity (about 45%); Islam (about 45%); other 10% traditional worshippers Christian influence mainly in the South and Middle-belt; Islamic influence mainly in the North Sharia law enforced in some states the North Both religions cohabit peacefully in some areas and in some areas there are conflicts


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Attires


PEOPLES AND RELIGION: PEOPLES AND RELIGION Attires


FOOD AND MUSIC: FOOD AND MUSIC It is very customary to offer food to a visitor out of hospitality; it is polite to receive it For the most part, family members eat meals at home Ready food can be bought at road-side stalls or restaurants called “Mama Put” or “Buka” Diet mainly grain or tuber-based but also includes a lot of meat, variety of vegetables; Often spicy


FOOD AND MUSIC: FOOD AND MUSIC Some popularly prepared foods: Jollof rice: rice cooked in a sauce of ground tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices. Meat and vegetables either added to or eaten along with this rice which end up having a reddish color. Plain boiled rice is often served covered with meat stew and often eaten with fried plantain (dodo). Moyin-moyin: paste of skinned ground beans, mixed with boiled eggs, spices, crushed tomatoes, fish put to steam in banana leaves or aluminum cans.


FOOD AND MUSIC: FOOD AND MUSIC Akara: bean paste mixed with ground tomatoes, onion and pepper and deep fried; usually taken with Akamu (pudding) Rice and beans are often boiled together in a tomato based sauce or alone and eaten with stew. Yams: Simple cut up boiled yams eaten with salt and oil or stew, sliced fried yams, or boiled pounded yam that is dipped in stew ( made with green leaves, melon seed, tomatoes or okra) and eaten with without utensils (one can also use yam powder to make a similar dish). peppery soup with ground tomatoes and pepper, pieces of meat and onion and some oil. Suya (spicy meat kabobs) Puff puff and chin chin: snacks made from deep fried dough. Palm wine: wine made from the juices of palm trees


FOOD AND MUSIC: FOOD AND MUSIC Nigerian music is very diverse and rich. Music is used for celebrating any occasion from births to deaths, weddings and any important events. Different types of music come from different parts of Nigeria Hausa music characterized by the use of percussion instruments like the goje fiddle, tambura drums, and also kakakai trumpet. Ibo music produced using a string instrument called obo, and brass instruments such as saxophones Yoruba music consists mainly of drums like the dundun drum, gangan talking drum


FOOD AND MUSIC: FOOD AND MUSIC Nigerian Genres Palm wine style - created in 20th century Juju – created by Baba Tunde King in 1920s Nigerian Highlife – influenced by Highlife from Ghana, Cameroon and Zaire Afrobeat – created by Fela Anikulapo Kuti and inspired by Sierra Leonean Afro-soul singer Geraldo Pino in 1963 Fuji Music – appeared in the late 1960s and was said to be named after Mount Fuji in Japan Yo-pop - Yoruba pop, appeared towards the end of the 1980s


FOOD AND MUSIC: FOOD AND MUSIC Onyeka Onwenu Femi Kuti King Sunny Ade Ebenezer Obey Fela Kuti


GENERAL INFORMATION: GENERAL INFORMATION NIGERIAN YOUTH GROUP- BC To provide a forum through which youths can learn to preserve and develop their culture. To foster leadership qualities amongst the youths in the hope that these qualities would emanate into their domestic and public lives. To provide an opportunity for the youths to create a vast network for peer support in all aspects of their development, especially the social and educational aspects To join our mailing list/Info network or for more information, send us an email: naijyouth@yahoogroups.com