1. Nigeria is home to Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa.
Dangote's business interests in agriculture, banking, cement, manufacturing, salt and sugar have earned his net worth of more than $12 billion.

2. Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood, is one of the largest film producers in the world, second only to India's Bollywood.

3. Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria before being moved to Abuja, is the largest and most populous city and has been dubbed "Africa's Big Apple," in reference to New York City.

4. Nigeria is a diverse multiethnic country with more than 520 spoken languages.
While English is the official language, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are also major languages in Nigeria.

5. While there are a number of different religions practiced in Nigeria, the majority of the population is either Christian or Muslim.

6. Nigeria was formed in 1914, when colonial authorities merged the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria, to form the amalgamated Protectorate and Colony of Nigeria.