Reception Booklet for Prospective and potential exchange participants of AIESEC in Nigeria.

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Contents01. Welcome Note.
02. Brief facts about Nigeria.
00. Contents.
00.
03. Detailed History
04. Map of NIGERIA
05. Cultural Highlights
07. Tourist Destinations
08. Foods/Delicacies
09. List of Local Committees
10. Prices & Exchange rates
11. Sovueniers
12. Reception

3. Welcome to Nigeria, the pride of Africa.
A nation rich in culture and beautiful diversity;
Our wonderful hospitality, cuisine, tourist destinations and most
especially our peculiarly beautiful and happy people, will leave
you already planning for a second experience.
www.aiesecnigeria.org
01.

4. NIGERIA
Some
FACTS
About
Date of independence: Oct. 1st 1960
36 States
Capital: Abuja
Population: over 160,000,000
President: Ebele Goodluck Jonathan
Area(/km): 923,768
Currency: Naira N( (
Official Language: English
Religion: Christianity & Islam
Land of seamless UNITY
in boundless DIVERSITY
Culturally diverse(with over 250 Ethnic Groups)
Largest Producers of Crude Oil
Largest Diversity of Butterflies
One of the oldest locations of human existence
02.

5. The Land, the People, the Culture.
NIGERIA
Nigeria, is a country located on the western coast of Africa. Nigeria has a diverse geography,
with climates ranging from arid to humid equatorial.
Hundreds of languages are spoken in the country, including Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani,Hausa, Edo,
Ibibio, Tiv, and English.
The country has abundant natural resources, notably large deposits of petroleum and natural
gas.
The national capital is Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory, which was created by decree in
1976. Lagos, the former capital, retains its standing as the country's
leading commercial and industrial city.
Modern Nigeria dates from 1914, when the British Protectorates of Northern and Southern
Nigeria were joined. The country became independent on Oct. 1, 1960, and in 1963
adopted a republican constitution but elected to stay a member of the Commonwealth.
Nigeria is bordered to the north by Niger, to the east by Chad and Cameroon, to the south
by the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean, and to the west by Benin.
The major drainage areas in Nigeria are the Niger-Benue basin, the Lake Chad basin, and the
Gulf of Guinea basin. The Niger River, for which the country is named, and the Benue, its
largest tributary, are the principal rivers.
The Niger has many rapids and waterfalls, but the Benue is not interrupted by either and is
navigable throughout its length, except during the dry season.
Rivers draining the area north of the Niger-Benue trough include the Sokoto, the Kaduna, the
Gongola, and the rivers draining into Lake Chad. The coastal areas are drained by short rivers
that flow into the Gulf of Guinea.
River basin development projects have created many large man-made lakes, including Lake
Kainji on the Niger and Lake Bakolori on the Rima River.
The Niger delta is a vast low-lying region through which the waters of the Niger River drain into
the Gulf of Guinea. Characteristic landforms in this region include oxbow lakes, river meander
belts (see meander), and prominent levees.
Large freshwater swamps give way to brackish mangrove thickets near the seacoast.
Nigeria has a tropical climate with variable rainy and dry seasons, depending on location.
It is hot and wet most of the year in the southeast but dry in the southwest and farther inland.
A savanna climate, with marked wet and dry seasons, prevails in the north and west,
while a steppe climate with little precipitation is found in the far north.
In general, the length of the rainy season decreases from south to north.
03.

6. 04.
Map of NIGERIA

7. 05.
Our Beautiful, rich, diverse CULTURE...
In the Nigerian society, age and tradition are highly respected. A lot of respect is
accorded to an elder and one is expected to greet using a persons title.
These greetings differ with respect to tribes and ethnic groups.
Every ethnic group and region have
their own peculiar traditions and cultures.
It is this diversity that makes the Nigerian life a
beautiful experience, coloring your presence
with awe inspiring dances and rites, beautiful
traditions and heart rending art.
Calabar Carnival
Africa’s biggest and most colorful carnival holds
in the beautiful city of Calabar every December,
during the yuletide seaon.

8. Argungu Fishing Festival
New Yam Festival
This is an annual ceremony of the igbo people held
at the end of the rainy season in early August.
Traditionally, the role of eating the first yam is
performed by the oldest man in the community, or
the king(Igwe).
It is a common belief in some Nigerian Societies that the origin of the human race
is attributed to some certain godsand deities. Each tribe has their own version of the
creation story. It is believed that these deities play a role in our
lives today and some are attributed to some natural forces and
phenomenons. Some of these deities include - Sango(god
of thunder, Ibeji(twin gods of youth and vitality), Ofara(god
of vengeance and justice).
It is also believed that dead some elders who die go on to
become “ancestors” who protect their offsprings, who in turn
make periodic offerings as appreciation and reverence.
gods, deities & fore fathers
06.
This is a culmination of a four day cultural event in
the north-western Nigerian State of Kebbi.
Started in 1934, it is used to mark peace between
the former Sokoto Caliphate and the people of
Argungu in Kebi Kingdom.

9. Some Tourist Destinations
Obudu Cattle Ranch
Located in Cross River State towards
the Nigerian-Cameroun border in the
South-East, the ranch is over 1,524m
and has a temperate weather condition
to ensure good vegetation and grazing
for cattle round the year.
Igbo-Ukwu is an ancient town popular for its
bronze artifacts. They were firs discovered by
British Archaeologist Thurstan Shaw.
The bronze date back to the 9th century.
Igbo-Ukwu
Erin Ijesa Waterfalls
Located in Osun State, it is a natural waterfall arena
amidst high rocks which has seven levels with different
waterfall levels.
Nok Village
Oguta Lake Holiday Park
The holiday complex is a lake of fresh water and is
the second largest of its kind in the country after the
Lake Chad. the complex houses a golf course,
recreational park, and the Natural confluence of
OgutaLake and Urashi River.
Arochukwu Long Juju Shrine
This famous shrine is located in a cave. The cave is
believed to hold the long metal pipe with which the
gods speak to the people.
07.
The home of the oldest form of civilization found on
African soil, the Nok culture still exists today, and
possesses in no small measure, the art and beauty
of its over 2,500 years past.

10. Some Nigerian Delicacies
Egusi Soup
Ewedu & Amala
Tuwo
Okra Soup
Oha Soup
Afang Soup
08.

11. Lc’s in Nigeria
Abeokuta Abuja
Benin Benue
Calabar Enugu Ibadan
Ile-Ife Illorin Illorin
Jos Kano
Lagos P-Court
Zaria
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12. Prices, Commoddities & Exchange rates.
$1= 160N
*As at August 2014
Bottle of water
Bottle of Coke
Movie Tickets
A plate of Food
A Loaf of bread
Transportation
N 50
N 70
N 500
N 200
N 1000
Varies
*Some of these things vary depending on location. You can always haggle over prices.
There are little differences between the exchange rates in banks and in private exchange houses.
It is advisable to change in bans as they are more efficicient.
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13. Miscallenaeous
11.
Some of the things youl’ll be expected to bring include:
Souvenirs from your Country
Your National Flag.

14. Reception
12.

15. c
You’ll be glad you came...
www.aiesecnigeria.org