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L AY E R S O F N I G E R I A

Apart from the money that the corrupt politicians earn, further unpacking the layers of Nigeria, it is clear that there is more than meets the eye of this country. For example, Nigeria’s famous artists, such as global sensations Wizkid, Davido, Ckay, and Fireboy DML with songs inspired from Afrobeats, using traditional Nigerian tunes with modern beats, have spread globally, with thanks to TikTok. For example, second only to Bollywood, Nigeria’s Nollywood produces 50 movies per week, generating $590 million in revenue annually. Despite not being as big as Hollywood and Bollywood the world is still fond of Nollywood’s notorious low budget yet hilarious productions, snippets often going viral on platforms like twitter and Instagram. Far more than being perceived as a corrupt low-income country, Nigeria is a newly emerging economy, adapting and innovating to a fast-paced, globalised world.

0.539 puts Nigeria in the low human development category, which may or may not be expected. Other countries with such HDI in Africa include the Democratic Republic of Congo with an HDI of 0.48, yet these two are almost incomparable when it comes to total GDP as the DRC’s is just below $50 billion. This is evidence of severe inequality, positively due to innovators in Africa such as Aliko Dangote, being Africa’s richest person and having a solo net worth of of 13.6 billion contributing 2.6% of Nigeria’s total GDP alone! The corrupt government makes the majority live off less than $6 a day, most of those living in shanty towns or squatter settlements such as Makoko, unlike the rich living in multimillion apartment complexes or mansion in Victoria Island or Lekki, for example. Despite the obvious inequalities, there are often misconceptions, by ignorant Westerners that the whole of “Africa” lives in poverty, and in shantytowns that resemble that of Makoko. Obviously this is not the case and many Nigerians live a luxurious lifestyle, whether it’s the creative innovators, successful Nollywood actors, Musicians, oil business people, or the corrupt politicians.

Nigeria Ari Moneke

Savanna Prahil Shah

Nigeria Ari Moneke

Nigeria Ari Moneke

42 | Geographical Magazine • Merchant Taylors’ School

2021/22 Edition | 43