Nigeria, located in West Africa, is the continent’s most populous country and a vibrant nation with a rich and complex history. Home to over 200 million people and more than 250 ethnic groups, including the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, Nigeria boasts a diverse cultural tapestry. Its territory has been inhabited for thousands of years, with powerful kingdoms such as the Nok, Oyo, Benin, and Kanem-Bornu shaping precolonial history. In the late 19th century, the region became a British protectorate and was later amalgamated as the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914. Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960, but its post-colonial history has been marked by periods of military rule, civil war—the most notable being the Biafran War from 1967 to 1970—and the eventual return to democratic governance in 1999. Today, Nigeria is recognized for its economic strength, buoyed by vast oil resources, as well as for its dynamic film industry, Nollywood, and influential music scene, making it a key player both in Africa and on the global stage.