Why is Nigeria famous in Africa?

Contrary to popular belief Nigeria within her territorial lines, Nigeria didn't shot into prominence because of her crude oil. She has been fairly famous towards the end of her time as a British colony. But she really became known in Africa during the Apartheid struggle in South Africa. She was actively involved all through the struggle.

She was also actively involved in formation of the defunct OAU now AU. Her crude oil did help her get some riches, she is worth the hype for that too.

She was also one of the forerunners in the formation of ECOWAS too. Nigeria has also got a large population, a somehow awkward ratio to her land mass (we should really consider the one child policy) hence, her citizens are everywhere, not only in Africa, all around the world. I am not implying the landmass cannot house her 180M populace, they are just born adventurers.

Nigeria has established herself as a bureaucratic major shareholder in African politics.

It is safe to say sports is also one of the factors why she is popular within Africa.

Another factor worth mentioning is her music, names like Wizkid, Yemi Alade, The PSquare, Tuface are household names around Africa.

And the last but not the least is the unending dramas, we should have a Telenovela dedicated to all the ridiculous drama we are treated to of recent, like a fully functional human being claiming a snake swallowed thirty-five million naira in cash, or the monkey that mistook twenty-seven million naira for a banana and eloped with it, or the crooked lawmaker that appeared in court on a stretcher feigning illness. This list will not be complete and honest if I fail to add that we are infamous because of the depth of corruption in our government.