₦airaland Forum

The exact individual who first coined the word “Naija” from “Nigeria” is not definitively known, as the term evolved informally over time. However, “Naija” gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, especially among Nigerian youth and in pop culture, music, and entertainment.

That said, some credit Nigerian artist Jide Taiwo and others in the Nigerian music and media space for helping to popularize the term, but there's no verified record showing that any one person officially invented it.

Naija is seen as a form of linguistic reappropriation — a way for Nigerians to embrace a local, informal, and affectionate version of their national identity, often associated with youthfulness, pride, resilience, and creativity. It differs from "Nigeria," which is more formal and colonial in origin.

Maybe people of Lasgidi

Sound sultan I guess

It was a comedian who did back in the day

Abomena kabiru Ajasa who hailed from now Kwara State. He was the first person to coin the word "Naija". He was a steward with Lord Lugard in the early 19th century when he moved to Nigeria. It was said that he communicated in caricature but understandable English after his enthusiasm to learn the white mans language. He coined the word after the naming of Nigeria by Lord Lugard's wife, he kept calling it Naija because of the difficulty pronouncing Nigeria. It amazed his master that they laughed over it whenever he mentioned it. That also became part of his nickname with people around him calling him Baba Naija.


Source Lord Lugard's Library achieve

It's from the Etisalat advert
0809ja for life
I presume

chigoziri2403:
It's from the Etisalat advert
0809ja for life
I presume

lol

chigoziri2403:
It's from the Etisalat advert
0809ja for life
I presume

Etisalat got it from somewhere.I am suspecting those night of thousand laugh comedians of those days

Whom else but MUA

X-generation