CAPTIVATING NIGERIA : 8 REASONS TO VISIT NIGERIA

Nigeria is a country in West Africa, blessed with outstanding beauty. A country covering an area of 923,768 square kilometers. A diversified Nation, with over 250 ethnic groups, various religions, cultures, speaking over 500 languages. Nigeria is a beauty to behold and an ideal choice for a first time visitor to Africa. Here are 8 reasons to visit Nigeria:

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND COLONIAL HISTORY

Nigeria has rich colonial history, though there is archaeological evidence that societies have been living in Nigeria for more than twenty-five hundred years, the borders of modern Nigeria was not created until the British consolidated their colonial power in 1914. There are lots of conserved sites and artifacts that tell of this history.

 WARM HOSPITALITY

Nigerians are very accommodating. A traditional Igbo man would quickly serve a visitor, Anara (garden eggs), Ose-oji (peanut butter), Oji (kola nut), Alligator pepper or Palm wine as a symbol of acceptance and peace. In Nigeria, It is normally considered rude not to invite guests to share in a meal when they visit.

The hospitality industry in Nigeria is also wonderful. There are lots of five star hotels and restaurants in the country which provide all the comfort and relaxation a tourist would need.

BE IN TOUCH WITH NATURE

Nigeria is crowned with breathtaking nature reserves. So many of them. There is hardly a state in the country without one or more of these natural wonders. They include:

THE MAMBILLA PLATEAU

The Mambilla plateau is located in the highlands of Taraba State of Nigeria. It hosts the Chappal Waddi Mountain which is the highest point in Nigeria with a height of 2,419 meters. It is home to the Gashaka Gumti National park and the Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve both of which harbor rare and endangered West/Central African plant and animal species.
 

OBUDU MOUNTAIN RESORT

Obudu Mountain Resort formally known as Obudu cattle ranch is situated in the highlands of Cross River State. It has a temperate weather. Cable cars from the base to the top of the plateau gives visitors a scenic view while bypassing the extremely winding road to the top. The ranch has in recent times seen an influx of both Nigerian and international tourists because of the development of tourist facilities which has turned the ranch into one of the well-known holiday and tourist resort centers in the country.

 IKOGOSI WARM SPRINGS

The Ikogosi warm springs is a tourist attraction located at Ikogosi, a town in Ekiti State. Flowing abreast the warm spring is another cold spring which meets the warm spring at a confluence, each maintaining its thermal properties. These attributes make the spring a tourist attraction in Nigeria.

Other natural wonders within the country are:

Gurara falls in Niger State.

Farin Ruwa water falls in Wamba L.G.A of Nasarawa state. 

Olumo rock in Abeokuta in Ogun state.

Owu falls in Ifelodun L.G.A of Kwara state.

Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi state.

Ogbunike Cave in Oyi L.G.A, Anambara state.

Idanre Hills in Idanre/Ifedore L.G.A, Ondo state.

Erin Ijesha water falls in Ilesa, Ogun state.

Awhum Monastry cave and water fall in Enugu state.

Padam Game Reserve, Ray field resort, Kura falls, Wase Rock, Kurra falls, Assop falls, Riyom rock and Kahwang rocks all in Jos, Plateau States. Etc.

AMAZING TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS

Nigerians are very traditional people with a rich cultural heritage. Festivals are just ways to celebrate these cultures .Some of the festivals are:

IWA JI/ IRI JI (NEW YAM FESTIVAL)

This is an annual cultural festival by the Igbo people held at the end of the raining season in August. Yams are the first crop to be harvested and are the most important crop of the region. The New Yam Festival is therefore a celebration depicting the prominence of Yam in the socio-cultural life of Igbo people.

 EYO FESTIVAL

“Eyo” refers to the costumed dancers/masquerades that come out during the Eyo festival. In the past, the Eyo festival is held to escort the soul of a departed Lagos King of Chief and to usher in a new King. The white–clad Eyo masquerades represent the spirits of the dead and are referred to in Yoruba as “Agogoro Eyo”. In modern times, it is presented by the people of Lagos as a tourist event due to its history.

 

ARGUNGU FISHING FESTIVAL

The Argungu Fishing Festival is an annual four day festival in Argungu, Kebbi State. On the final day of the festival, a competition is held in which thousands of men and women line up along the edge of the river, at the sound of a gunshot, all of them jump into the River and have an hour to catch the biggest fish. Competitors are only allowed to use only traditional fishing tools or bare hands. There are lots of Prizes to be won.

Other festivals include the Sango festival, a celebration of honor to the god of thunder, Sango in Oyo State.

Leboku festival, a new yam festival involving the celebration of the ancestral spirits and Earth goddess in Yakurr, Cross River State.

Osun festival, held in the Oshogbo forest to celebrate the River Goddess Oshun, the Deity’s Priests conduct rituals for the protection of Locals and children for barren women.

Sharo festival, celebrated by the Fulani tribe of Nigeria for the passage of young men who want to get married, the festival is characterized by flogging of the men with whips amid loud cheering and drumming from the crowd, any young man who endures the pain of the whipping long enough is said to be ready for marriage.

The Ekwuechi festival in Ebiraland (Okene) of Kogi State, Ivbamen festival in Ozalla Owan West, Edo State. The list is endless.

GREAT FOOD

Nigeria is known for a great variety of food and drinks. Most traditional meals are eaten with bare hands, the right hand actually. It is considered wrong eating with the left. Most meals are made from fresh ingredients. Ingredients vary from region to region and each cuisine tends to be based around a staple food found in any region like Rice, Yam and Cassava etc. Enjoy our local alcoholic drink, the “palm wine” that comes from palm trees and the very tasty “Suya” (Nigerian barbecued meat). Are you a food enthusiast or looking to create a new recipe? The Nigerian taste could be all the inspiration you need.

Tuwo Shinkafa....A typical Hausa dish

Amala and Ewedu...A typical Yoruba dish

Starch and Banga soup ....a typical Delta dish

Pounded yam and Egusi soup ......a typical Igbo dish

 INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

A population of over 123 million people which grows by 2.6% yearly, Nigeria is every investors delight. With the major economic transformation going on in the country under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s lead administration, there is a vast range of opportunities available to potential local and foreign direct investors in sectors which includes; Solid mineral mining, transport, agriculture, energy, real estate, communications etc. Nigeria is putting in place all that it would take to make country investor friendly.

TALENT HUNT

The streets of Nigeria are always bustling with raw and untapped talent. Musicians, instrumentalists, models, dancers, fashion designers, cooks, artists etc. Individuals that have all it takes to shine on the international scene.

 

 FUN, FUN AND MORE FUN

The average Nigerian is fun loving. We love to party and unwind hence there are so many places to carter for this need. Entertainment places, Cinemas ,parks, clubs, Joints, Bars, Beaches etc. or simply enjoy a plate of Goat meat pepper soup with a bottle of Nigerian brewed cold beer while listening to some nice Nigerian tunes.

COME VISIT NIGERIA

PHOTO CREDIT: GOOGLE IMAGES