Nigeria is a massive country of almost 100 million people comprising 250 ethnic groups speaking 4000 dialects. It is more than two and half times the size of California. With one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, the country has the largest and most vocal press in Africa, publishing views and opinions freely. However, while debates are passionate and views varied, Nigerians largely remain united in a single, unswerving thread: “ONE NIGERIA”. It is this oneness that has been the guiding posts of Nigeria since independence.Since joining the United Nations in 1960, Nigeria has consistently committed itself to the cause of peacekeeping and peacemaking. Nigeria sent their first troops to participate in the UN peace mission in the Congo, only days after its independence. Today, Nigeria leads the world in international peacekeeping. Of the 80 countries contributing troops to over 20 global operations, Nigeria has more than 6,500 men keeping the peace outside its borders in places such as Bosnia Herzgovena, Iraq, Kuwait, Western Sahara, Liberia, Angola, Rwanda. Nigerian troops have also served in Somalia, Mozambique and Cambodia, The Congo, Chad, Lebanon, India, Pakistan (Kashmir). Nigeria has more men and women risking their lives in the interest of peace than any other country in the world.There are more than 18 million students in Nigerian schools at all levels. That is more than the total human population of South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania and the school population of France, Britain and Spain. The country adopted a 6-3-3-4 educational policy in 1982. The policy requires six years primary education, a two-tier (3-year junior, 3-year senior) secondary education and four years of University education. There are 31 universities in Nigeria today. Apart from fully funding primary education all around the country, the government also runs secondary schools, and funds technical colleges, polytechn...
