Modern-day Nigeria has been the site of numerous kingdoms and tribal states over the millennia. The modern state originated from British colonial rule beginning in the 19th century, and the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914. The British set up administrative and legal structures whilst practising indirect rule through traditional chiefdoms. Nigeria became a formally independent federation in 1960, and plunged into a civil war from 1967 to 1970. It has since alternated between democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, until it achieved a stable democracy in 1999, with its 2011 presidential elections being viewed as the first to be conducted reasonably freely and fairly.

Nigeria is often referred to as the "Giant of Africa", owing to its large population and economy. With approximately 182 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. Nigeria has one of the largest populations of youth in the world. The country is viewed as a multinational state, as it is inhabited by over 500 ethnic groups, of which the three largest are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba; these ethnic groups speak over 500 different languages, and are identified with wide variety of cultures. The official language is English. Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Christians, who live mostly in the southern part of the country, and Muslims in the northern part. A minority of the population practise religions indigenous to Nigeria, such as those native to Igbo and Yoruba peoples.

1. what is Nigeria called?
2. why?
3. how many ethnic groups?
4. whats one of the largest?
5. have they had a civil war?
6. when?
7. where did it originate from?
8. what merging happened?
9. what structures did the Brits have there?
10. when did it become independent?
11. what type of government have they had?
12. /what happened in 2011?
13. what the population?
14. where does in rank in population?
15. what about the world?
16. what religions?
17. which lives in the north?
18. and South?
19. any native religions?
20. what people celebrate those religions?
21. what do they speak there?

Provide a numbered list of answers.
1. the "Giant of Africa"
2. It has a large population and economy.
3. over 500
4. the Hausa
5. yes
6. from 1967 to 1970.
7. from British colonial rule
8. the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914.
9. administrative and legal
10. in 1960
11. democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships,
12. the first to be conducted reasonably freely and fairly.
13. 182 million
14. Most populous in Africa
15. seventh
16. Christians and Muslims
17. Muslims
18. Christians
19. yes
20. those native to Igbo and Yoruba peoples.
21. over 500 different languages