Nigeria - Special Supplement and Advertisement

Ebony, Feb, 1990 by Yinka Craig, Sonala Olumhense, Remi Oyo, Tanoloju, Pat Utomi

Recently, Nigeria embarked upon the development of a petrochemicals industry to provide an industrial base to the country. Two plants in Ekpan (Bendel State) and Kaduna (Kaduna State) which were commissioned early in 1988 serve as the launch pad for this industry. They produce lineer alkalyl benzene, polyprolene and carbon black. Steel development has also been taking place, although it has fallen behind schedule. Hundreds of millions of Naira have so far been invested in a major complex in Ajaokuta, Kwara State. There are rolling mills in Oshogbo, Jos and Katsina scattered across Nigeria and a beneficiation plant in Aladja, (Bendel state), the Delta Steel Company.

The hope of the country's planners has since turned to the Liquified Natural (LNG) gas project in a bid to cement the foundation of prosperity. The LNG marketing efforts which have yielded positive results show that the eastern United States will be part of the destination of ships carrying LNG for export, which will commence in January of 1995.

SPORTS

Sports is one of Nigeria's favorite passions and Nigerians delight in using it to draw attention to their young nation on the international map. The late Great Dick Tiger, (world boxing champion, middleweight and light heavy) after a rather gruelling title defence, was congratulated in the dressing room by a gentleman who joked about buying a mink coat for the wife with his winnings. Tiger quipped: "I told you I am from Nigeria, not Siberia".

Nigerians do not hesitate to make it clear that there is nothing even remotely cold about Nigeria; from the brilliant tropical weather to the vibrant population, energy is in abundance everywhere. This vivacity is expressed well in the sporting life of the country.

Nigeria has produced the likes of Charlton Ehizuelen, the champion triple jumper, whose brilliant career lost a well deserved Olympics conclusion because of the anti-apartheid sport boycott of 1976; Hogan Kid Bassey, indomitable king of featherweight boxers in the fifties; Nduka Odizor, "the Duke", who from ball boy went to become a world rated tennis player within a decade; Innocent Egbunike, who has returned some of the fastest timings for the 400 meter race in the world in the last few years and Chris Okoye, better known for shot put and discus throwing in Nigeria, but who is currently an American Football sensation.

The list is longer. Much of the impact has been made by Nigerian students in foreign Universities. This may be attributed to the inadequacy of facilities over the years. As facilities have improved, locally-trained talents have flourished. Nigeria's youth soccer team has been the African champion for eight years running. And in 1985, Nigeria's team stunned the world especially West Germany at the finals to clinch the first ever Under-17 World Soccer Cup. Olapade Adenekan, who made it into the semifinals of both the 100 and 200 meters (men) in the Seoul Olympics, was wholly trained in Nigeria.

Perhaps the most outstanding of all is the Houston Rockets center, Akeem Olajuwon, otherwise known as Akeem the Dream. From winning the MVP award at an African Basket Competition in 1980, he became a million dollar professional. Top performers like Akeem are in every sport in Nigeria, waiting to be discovered. In the last three years, no fewer than 35 Nigerians youths have been lured away to Europe, where they now play professional soccer with the big leagues.