Nigeria

LOCATION:
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is located on the West Coast of Africa with 36 states and a recorded population of over 120 million people. Of this population, 30 million are students. The country is rich in petroleum and many other natural resources. The three dominant tribes are Yoruba in the southwest, Ibo in the eastern region and Hausa in the north. Although people speak their native languages, the official language is English. The dominant two religions are Christianity and Islam. Nigeria is situated on the west coast of Africa, lies on latitudes 4° north of the Equator and latitudes 3° and 14° on the east of the Greenwich Meridian. Shares boundaries with The Republics of Benin and Niger in the west, Cameroon in the East, Niger and Chad in the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the South. Nigeria gained it’s independence from the British in 1960. For most its Post-independence years, it was been under military rule. During this period, the educational system suffered, it was plagued with riots and strikes resulting in a decline in quality of the educational system. Educational institutions are still in the process of recuperating from the neglect of the former governments, though a lot still needs to be done for Nigeria to regain its lost place of glory. It had in the past produced a lot of academicians ands professionals in varoius fields of human endeavour.

Area:
923,768.64sq. Kilometers

Capital:
Abuja

Population:
About 155 Million People

Official Language:
English (Official)About 450 Indigenous languages with Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba being the most widely spoken. Others include Ijaw, Tiv, Edo, Jukun, Gbagyi, Idoma, Igala, Nupe, Etsako, Ebirra, Kanuri, Kalabari, Esan, Kamberi, Shuwa Arab, Bajju, and Tarok to mention but a few.

National Day:
October 1st (Got independence from Great Britain in 1960)

Currency:
Naira=100 kobo

Time:
GMT + 1Hour

Weights sand Measures:
Metric

Political Structure:
Three-tier structure:

Main Commecial/Industrial Cities:
Lagos, Kano, Onitsha, Ibadan, Aba, jos, Warri, Maiduguri, Oshogbo etc.

Introduction:
The Nigeria's philosophy on education according to the constitution is based on the development of the individual into a sound and effective citizen and the provision of equal educational opportunities for all citizens of the nation at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels both inside and outside the formal school system. The language of instruction in Nigerian institutions is English. The Federal Ministry of Education is the government body charged with the duty of regulating procedures and maintaining standards in all educational institutions across the country.

Primary School
Primary education begins at the age of six for the majority of Nigerians. Students spend six years in primary school and graduate with a First School Leaving Certificate. Subjects taught at the primary level include mathematics, English language, bible knowledge, science and one of the three main native languages (Hausa, Yoruba and Ibo). Some Privately owned primary schools also offer computer science, French and art. Primary school students are required to take a Common Entrance Examination to qualify for admission into the Federal and State Government schools. Private Secondary schools organize their entrance examinations individually though State Ministries of education monitor the standardsNigerian

WIKIEDUCATORS

 * Maureen Matheny School, Niger Delta
 * Felix Kayode Olakulehin Regional Training and Research Institute for ODL, National Open University of Nigeria
 * Professor Babatunde Ipaye Directorate of Learner Support Services, National Open University of Nigeria
 * Ibrahim Oyekanmi Mallamibro Information Technology Academy, Kano, Nigeria
 * Abdulmalik Yusuf Ofemile University of Leeds, U K/ FCT College of Education, Zuba Abuja
 * Auwalu Inuwa Diso Publisher, e-Reading Newsletter, Disoweb Nigeria Limited, Kano