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About Nigeria

At the Africa-American Friendship Society, Friendship is our middle name; the same is true for Africa and Nigeria.

Location: Nigeria is in West Africa. The geographic coordinates are: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Nigeria's borders are: Niger to the North, Cameroon to the East, the Atlantic Ocean to the South, and Benin to the West.
Size: 910,770 sq. km. / 351650 sq. miles
Population: Est. 123,337,822
Ethnic Groups: Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5% and Tiv 2.5%.
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write. total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3% (1995 est.)
Economy: overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from over-dependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has not kept up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food.. Tremendous perspective growth, improvements, and greatness.
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Political: Nigeria now has a Democratic system of government, after many years of military dictatorship. There is the executive branch headed by the President; the legislative branch which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives; and the judiciary branch which is comprised of the Supreme Court, the Appellate Court and the lower courts. Nigeria has 36 states. Each state has an executive branch, which is comprised of the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the Cabinet Ministers (called commissioners), the legislative branch, and the judiciary branch. The principle of ‘one man one vote’ applies, even though this still needs fine-tuning. All she needs now is encouragement from her friends to sustain this Democracy.

110 year old Anglican Cathedral in Akwete, Nigeria.

About Akwete

The activities of AAFS in Nigeria, originate from Abia State in Nigeria, which is the national Headquarters of the Africa-American friendship Society-Nigeria. Akwete is a small quiet village of about 3,000 people, but surrounded by several smaller villages of the clan of people called the "Ndokis". The Ndokis then joined with another clan of people called the "Asa" to form a bigger entity called Ukwa.

Akwete is strategically located on the southward bank of the Imo River, historically noted for its role as a major last mainland bank of export for slaves from the eastern region of Nigeria from whence they were transported by the river to ocean vessels that transported them to Europe, Asia and other Western countries that traded on slaves used for manual labor. In the same token, Akwete (rightfully so) became the embarkment point from whence many European Abolitionists of slave trade penetrated the mainland of Nigeria's eastern region to stop the slave trade.

It is strategically located equidistant between the economically oil rich capital city of Port-Harcourt, Rivers state and the commercially vibrant nerve center of Aba, Abia State. Most of Akwete's early ancestors came form the islands of the Rivers State- Opobo, Bonny, etc. and settled in the mainland. Being surrounded by water the people are traditionally fishermen who have a "pact with the waters" as a source of making a livelihood. The men fish while the women weave cloths. The uniqueness of the cloths came to earn the "Akwete cloth" (as it is called) world and international acclaim. It is a work of art and beauty to behold.

Because of its location (being the gateway to the state of Abia from the Rivers State and its river bank location with easy accessibility to the ocean), Akwete enjoyed early contacts with Christianity as missionaries came inland to preach the gospel of Christ. Hence, Akwete was the beneficiary of one of the oldest Anglican Cathedrals built in Africa.

As the lessons of the past have always been the guide to the success of the present and the future, AAFS feels that the historic role that Akwete held in the abolition of slave trade and therefore the physical and psychological emancipation of man in our region, makes it a prime candidate for a center suitable for hosting our mission to start the emancipation of our people with regards to health, economy, social awareness, education, religion, etc. Akwete is the headquarters of Ukwa-East local government area of the state Abia in Nigeria. Its people are kindhearted and very hospitable (as they demonstrated to the early Europeans and missionaries).

Come find out for yourself. Visit this friendly, peaceful and quiet village and discover the beauty of her people and the land. You'll not only like them, you'll love them.

Nnete Okorie-Egbe of Akwete was a Princess and revolutionary leader from Akwete. Died at age 102 in 1968 during the Nigerian/Biafra Civil War. Nnete was the fearless leader of the 1929 women's riot of Aba, protesting unfair taxation of women. She was imprisoned by the British Colonial Administration for two years in Port Harcourt. Later released to a hero's welcome as the British Colonial Administration backed down and reversed itself, by abolishing the taxation on women.