Case Study: Economic Development in Nigeria
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 5.1.19
The Importance and Development of Nigeria
Nigeria was the 21st largest economy in the world in 2014. It has the largest population, agricultural output and GDP of all African countries. Nigeria has developed in the way it has for different reasons:
Political context to Nigeria's development
- Nigeria was part of the British Empire until it became independent in 1960.
- Nigeria suffered from conflict and unrest after independence but is now politically stable.
Social context to Nigeria's development
- Nigeria was created when European nations divided up Africa during the Berlin conference. This means that there is a wide mix of faiths and ethnic groups.
- This considerable diversity led to a civil war from 1967-1970.
Cultural context to Nigeria's development
- Nigeria is well-known for its music, cinema and football team.
Environmental context to Nigeria's development
- The north of Nigeria is part of the Sahel and is very dry.
- Much of Nigeria is tropical grassland, but the region nearest to the coastline is forested and ideal for growing cocoa.
Test yourself on Case Study: Economic Development in Nigeria
What were the dates of the post-independence Nigerian civil war?