The Weight of a Crown: How Nigeria Earned the Title "Giant of Africa"

obikay (64)in Hot News Community • 26 days ago

Have you ever wondered why Nigeria was nicknamed the giant of Africa? Welcome to my post as I share with you why it happened and what let to this big name "Giant of Africa".

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The phrase giant of Africa began to appear widely in the early to mid 1970s. But why? As we all know, oil was discovered in Nigeria in 1956 at a small town called Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa state located in the Niger Delta region after 50 years of unsuccessful attempts in some other regions of Nigeria. Production officially began in 1958 and Nigeria started exporting crude oil that same year producing around 5,000 barrels per day.

From there the oil industry exploded, which strengthened Nigeria's economic status and then a few years later by the 1970s Nigeria had become one of the top oil producers in the world. Oil money started flowing. The country's economy was booming. Nigeria suddenly became one of the richest country in Africa and a major oil producer on the global stage. Don't forget during that time Nigeria's population was already around 56 to 60 million making it the most populous country in Africa. Because of these, people from other countries in Africa like, Togo, Ghana, Benin, came to work in Nigeria because back then, Nigeria naira currency holds much value.

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Now as the biggest country in Africa by population combined with this sudden oil wealth Nigeria quickly rose to power. Nigeria became so powerful and influential that it started sending peacekeeping soldiers to other African countries. It began hosting major events like FESTAC 77, the second world black African festival of art and culture. This event was the largest event held in the continent. It had a total number of over 16,000 participants from 56 countries. In other to accommodate everyone that was why the Nigerian national art theatre was built, located in Lagos state.

Nigeria also promoted pan-Africanism and help other neighboring nations financially. I mean they were helping other African countries with money. In fact during this period Nigeria played a major role in African affairs to the point where other countries began to see Nigeria as an African powerhouse. So because of this sudden rise in wealth, power and influence, journalist,
foreign diplomat and African scholars started referring to Nigeria as the giant of Africa. That was how Nigeria got the title. The nickname began to spread from the early '70s and it was accepted worldwide because people could clearly see what was happening in Nigeria then. So the title Giant of Africa wasn't given by one person or organization. It was a name Nigeria earned through its oil wealth, large population and influence across the continent.

_{Image generated with Gemini: Oloibiri well - 12,008ft}

But it's so sad that right now we can't even boast of that name again and the sad part is that the town called Oloibiri town, now present day Bayelsa state, Nigeria, still remains undeveloped despite the fact that it was where oil was first found in Nigeria.
The oil wells had a life span of 20 years from 1958-1978 with over 20M barrels. What's left of the well location is just an empty reminder of where oil business started.
Today, Nigeria still holds the name "Giant of Africa". That name Giant of Africa tells the story of a nation that once rose with strength, power, and hope but today where are we?