Steemit Engagement Challenge S2W2 | Steem4Nigeria Contest | No place like home: Tell us why you prefer your country to any other country by @acedluffy

image credits: Canva

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Welcome to my entry for the week 2 of the Steemit Engagement Challenge, today we will be looking at my country Nigeria and why I prefer it to other countries. My last entry didn't go as planned but we go deeper, stronger and harder this time. Let's get a grasp of what this post is all about.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF MY COUNTRY

Nigeria is also called the "Giant of Africa" and was under the British from 1901 up until the year 1960 when we gained independence. The country Nigeria was formed in the year 1914 by the merging of the northern and southern protectorates. It fell under military rule in the year 1966 and has been under military rule for a combined period of 29 years. The Nigerian civil War between the people advocating for Biafra and those against the idea started in 1967 and ended on January 1970. Now enough about the history let's look at the features. The name Nigeria was named after the river Niger as it's the largest river in the whole of west Africa as Nigerian is in west Africa.

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Nigeria is a country endowned with numerous mineral and natural resources. It is the most populated country in Africa and has one of the largest economy in Africa. It has 36 states excluding Abuja ( the Federal Capital Territory). Nigeria has above 250 ethnic groups with over 500 spoken languages around the country. It is rich and brimming with cultural heritage and tradition. There are 774 local government areas in Nigeria. The current president of Nigeria is Muhammad Buhari with Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as the vice president and they have served 2 tenures in office successively (8 years). The next election for the next president and vice along with for the governors of each state is in 2023.

THE GREAT THINGS THAT INTEREST ME ABOUT NIGERIA

Nigerians can adapt to almost any situation
We have been through alot in the hands of corruption and bad governance but we still survive and push harder. If there is inflation, we adapt, if there is deflation, we adapt if we go to any part of the world, we would definitely adapt and even make a name for ourselves.

We love and appreciate arts, tradition, food and culture
Nigeria has alot of cultural practices, festivals and traditions and even the food we respect and take them seriously while passing it down from generation to generation and one of this is our languages. We didn't abandon our cultural heritage even when our colonial masters changed our mindset.

We are united even in good and bad times
Despite our differences in terms of tribe, location, state of origin and language, when we want to get things done, we always come together to do it. A good example is when we come together to peacefully protest against this corrupt government.

The ability to stay happy and sane in the face of suffering
There is this ability Nigerians have which enables them to just laugh off their pain and suffering and live optimisticly as though everything was going to be fine. We often joke about our problems inorder to ease the pain and suffering that comes with it especially through social media.

Filled with talented individuals and great minds
Nigeria is low-key a great country. Most of the citizens who go abroad always ending making a big name for themselves and hitting it big. The richest man in Africa hails from Nigeria, so many foreign musicians right now are part Nigerian even some successful actors in Hollywood are Nigerians.

THINGS THAT I PREFER IN MY COUNTRY OVER COUNTRIES

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The rich culture and traditional foods, festivals and values is something I can never trade for anything because they are unique to Nigeria only. I grew up with these beliefs and they are now part and parcel of me and I look forward to so many Festivals like the masquerade festivals, the Argungu fishing festival, the ofala festival, the new yam festival.

Oh I had to save the best for last, the food😋. I am a proud foodie/ food lover and I love Nigerian traditional dishes from the Igbos, I love all Igbo soups especially Ogbono soup then from the Yorubas I love their Ewa Agoyin, Amala and gbegiri and from the Hausas I love their Awara, kunu, fura de nunu, weina and lots more.

The ability to stay happy in both the good and bad times is something that needs to be given accolades for. So many people in other foreign countries might take their lives if they go through what an average Nigerian goes through but we have found a way to stay sane and happy and just laugh away our problems.

THE THINGS I'VE MENTIONED EARLIER CAN MAKE ME COME BACK TO MY COUNTRY

Yes, I'm proud to say that no matter which part of the world I'm in, I would still come back because of the Nigerian cultural heritage, the traditional activities and dishes. Together with the fact that we are one country united in diversity and can stay happy no matter what we are going through.

I would love to invite @victoh78, @ngoenyi and @anyiglobal to join me in this contest.