1st Period: Team Africa

Country: Nigeria
Geography

Borders Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger
and it is by the atlantic ocean.

2 1/2 times the size of California

There are volcanic rocks and it is found on the Biu Plateau in the northeast.


Most of the surface consists of crystalline rocks. The landscape is level but is interrupted by granite moutains

Ocassional disputes with Chad. Their relatively friendly and cordial. They decided in 1980's to kick out illegal immigrants but this problem was solved peacefully.

The Niger river and the Benue river offer hydroelectric power. Petrolum is mainly from onshore and offshore sites in the delta area of the Niger River. That is their main export.

Information provided by: 12

Nigeria

• Basic lanugage is English and the capital is Abja

• famous authors such as Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka came from Nigera.

• famous for butterflies and the drill monkey only lives here

• Flora Shaw came up with Nigerias name. Niger river dominates most of the Landscape.

• Great Britian ruled Nigeria for a long time.

• has 30 states.

• It is a republic.

• Has one of the fastest growing economies

• Oil was discovered in 1956.

• Home of some of the most ancient and beautiful art......starting in the colonial era when they started depicting the real world in detail and they have improved from there . There has is a diversity of whether landscape or abstract.

Language:

• English is the basic language, but their are more than 500 other languages. 50% of the Nigerian people cant speak English though. Each tribe has their own language.
Information provided by: 12

Music:

• Very lively and energetic, influenced by different tribes and various traditions. Afrosoul is perfect mix of American soul music with African grooves; Apala is the music of 1960s.

Arts & Crafts:
Dates back over 2000 years. Nok Terracotta and the Igbo Ukwu are examples of excavation that indicated that they were artsy. Not just sculpture and masks it also includes festivals and dances and theaters.
Information provided by: 10

Religion:

• Northern is Muslim and southern is Christian.
Information provided by: 11

Cooking:

• Spinach and jute leaves and melon seeds are common and they also bbq meat and eat pepper soup
Information provided by: 10

Important People:
• Wole Soyinka- writer, poet, and playwriter.

• Agbani Darego- Crowned Miss World in 2001, first black woman from Africa country to win.

• Michael Olowokandi- Nigerian person in the NBA.
Information provided by: 10, 12 and 13


History:
circa 11th century onwards - Formation of city states, kingdoms and empires,

16-18th centuries - Slave trade: Millions of Nigerians are forcibly sent to the Americas.
1861-1914 - Britain consolidates its hold over what it calls the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, governs by "indirect rule" through local leaders.
1967 - Three eastern states secede as the Republic of Biafra, sparking bloody civil war
1993 August - Power transferred to Interim National Government
1993 November - General Sani Abacha seizes power, suppresses opposition.
2002 November - More than 200 people die in four days of rioting stoked by Muslim fury over the planned Miss World beauty pageant in Kaduna in December. The event is relocated to Britain.
2003 July - Nationwide general strike called off after nine days after government agrees to lower recently-increased fuel prices.
2003 September - Nigeria's first satellite, NigeriaSat-1, launched by Russian rocket.
2006 April - Helped by record oil prices, Nigeria becomes the first African nation to pay off its debt to the Paris Club of rich lenders.
2006 October - Spiritual leader of Nigeria's millions of Muslims, the Sultan of Sokoto, is killed in a plane crash, the country's third major civilian air disaster in a year.
2008 November - At least 200 people are killed during clashes between Christians and Muslims in the central Nigerian town of Jos.
2009 August - Two-month offer of a government amnesty for Niger Delta militants comes into force.
2009 November/December - President Yar'Adua's extended absence from the country - while undergoing treatment in Saudi Arabia for a heart condition - leads to calls for his resignation.
2010 January - President Yar'Adua gives first interview since going into hospital in Saudi Arabia for heart treatment in November, saying he is recovering.
Information provided by: 13 and 11

Current Issue:
Overcrowding in prison- Up to 3 inmates live in less than 4 square meters of space. There is signifigant lack of food. Dont have contact with outside world, no one comes and visits them. There is tons of disease because they all live so close to each other. They make a "goverment" inside the prison, which causes them to riot. Hygeine is horrible! Their are tons of misquitos which carry malaria. When the prisons were opened to religous and humanitarian organisations the death rate has fallen. They fight over basic necessities. Some struggle with depression and corruption. It basically is like war.
Information provided by: 12 and 10

Solution:
Dear Ambassador Robin Renee Sanders:


We are high school students who have been doing research on the country of Nigeria. As we were researching, we came across a major problem in Nigeria. The prisons there are unsanitary and almost impossible to live in. Prisoners fight over food and basic necessities, and there are even some types of “government” formed in these prisons. Disease is spread as a result of overcrowding, and survival is difficult.

We have identified this as a major problem, and we would like to propose a solution. If the Nigerian government sets up stricter laws and stricter punishments, then the crime rate would decline, thus eliminating the need for more prisons. Also, the Nigerian government could train, equip, and send out more police forces in order to reduce crime further.

Another idea is to set aside a portion of the tax revenue towards building more sanitary, less crowded prisons. Then more people could get employed by building these prisons.

We would be honored if you would consider our solution to this major problem.

Yours Sincerely,

10, 11, 12 & 13
Embassy of the United States of America

Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive

Central District Area, Abuja.