History

• Both the Portuguese and British colonized Nigeria, using it as a base for slave trade. On October 1, 1960, Nigeria declared its independence from the United Kingdom.
  
  

Government

• The Nigerian governmental system is patterned after the model used in the United States. The current president is Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Just like the United States, Nigeria has a Senate and a House of Representatives.
  
  

Flora and Fauna

• Nigeria is famous for its collection of butterflies and it is the only home to the drill monkey. Nigeria has regions of forest, savannah, mangrove swamps and highlands.
  
  

Food

• Nigerian food is is varied and piquant. Palm oil is a key ingredient in much of the cooking and sauces are made quite spicy with chili peppers.
  
  

Culture

• Famous authors such as Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka come from Nigeria. Nigeria is also very famous for its music. World famous musicians like Femi Kuti hail from Nigeria. Soccer is the most people sport in the country and its national team has made the World Cup three times.