It never ceases to amaze me how Ghanaians perceived their fellow Africans, particularlly Nigerians they love to hate so much, that it has now become a pastime in some of their folklores. They have this saying in one of their traditional beliefs thus: "Onyame ntes3 Alata ni da" meaning God is not Alata man; ('Alata or Anago' were some of the derogative names Ghanaians usually use to describe Nigerians).

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Contrary to the wrong perception by some Ghanaians that God is not "Alata or Anago man" God must truly be smiling on Nigerians for winning the AFCON 2013, and if that is not a CONFIRMATION that God is truly a Nigerian King, I do not know what is. In fact, there is a saying in Nigeria in my native yoruba language thus: "Nigeria ni Ibujoko Olodunmare" meaning, God's thrown is in Nigeria. We always thank Jehovah God for his mercy and blesssing over the great country, Nigeria.

The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was coined by Flora Shaw, the future wife of Baron Lugard, a British colonial administrator, in the late 19th century. The British colonised Nigeria in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, setting up administrative structures and law while recognizing traditional chiefs. Nigeria became independent again in 1960. Several years later, it had civil war as Biafra tried to establish independence. Military governments in times of crisis have alternated with democratically elected governments.

Nigeria is roughly divided in half between Muslims, concentrated mostly in the north, and Christians, who mostly live in the South. A very small minority practice traditional religions, although the rate of syncretism is high. Since 2002 there have been a spate of clashes, particularly in the North of the country, between government forces and the Islamist group Boko Haram, militant jihadists who seek to establish sharia law.

The people of Nigeria have an extensive history. Archaeological evidence shows that human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BC. The area around the Benue and Cross River is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium.

Officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

Potentials

Very soon Nigeria shall rule the world in soccer, technology, medicine, education, commerce, science etc. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world. Its oil reserves have brought great revenues to the country. It is listed among the "Next Eleven" economies, and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

The Next Eleven (known also by the numeronym N-11) are the eleven countries – Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, South Korea, and Vietnam – identified by Goldman Sachs investment bank and economist Jim O'Neill in a research paper as having a high potential of becoming, along with the BRICs/BRICS, the world's largest economies in the 21st century. The bank chose these states, all with promising outlooks for investment and future growth, on December 12, 2005.

Mineral resources

Did you know that out of thirty five mineral resources known to mankind, Nigeria possess thrity=three? Oh yes, I really mean a whopping ninety-five percent of the World's valuable mineral resources were located in Nigeria.

Kogi state alone has deposits of a total of "29 MINERAL RESOURCES" available in commercial quantities. These include coal, dolomite, feldspar, bauxite, iron ore, tar, limestone, gold, etc. Each of the 21 LGAs in the state has deposits of at least 2 minerals. One of the coal-rich areas is the Okaba district of Ankpa LGA which alone holds reserves of 99 million tonnes of coal. As things stand, Kogi state alone has enough deposits of coal to supply all of Nigeria with electricity for 400 years. Four hundred years? Oh yes! Kogi state alone holds enough limestone to keep 3 giant-sized cement factories (with over 15m tons annual capacity) operational for an unbroken stretch of 99 years. This is mind blowing. Next door in Nasarawa state, there are commercial deposits of 25 MINERAL RESOURCES including tantalite, barite, copper, iron ore, tin ore, coal, columbite, aquamarine. What a great country Nigeria is. (Anyone can google 'nigeria mineral resources) and see for themselves.

According to the Permanent Secretary, Fedral Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Ms Ama Pepple, Nigeria has more than "four trillion tonnes" deposit of solid minerals from which micro-nutrients can be derived. Pepple made this known in Abuja, at the 3rd Annual Discourse of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency. Nigeria also has a wide array of "underexploited mineral resources" which include natural gas, coal, bauxite, tantalite, gold, tin, iron ore, limestone, niobium, lead and zinc, etc. Despite huge deposits of these natural resources, the mining industry in Nigeria is still in its infancy.

Technologies

Four satellites have been launched by the Nigerian government into outer space. The Nigeriasat-1 was the first satellite to be built under the Nigerian government sponsorship. The satellite was launched from Russia on 27 September 2003. The federal government of Nigeria is also investing the mobile technologies that will rival any nation in the world.

This sleeping giant, Nigeria is now waking up to live up her true 'enviable position' at the committee of Nations. It is a matter of time. And if anybody makes jest about God not being Alata man..."Onyame ntes3 Alata ni da" tell him or her to ask God why did he deposited so much "untapped wealth" in Nigeria, and showers his everlasting blessings on His children in Nigeria.

Tony Wisdom A true pan-Africanist tonywisdom1@gmail.com