Research Paper on:
Overview of Nigeria

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
the country, which leaves the population with a life expectancy of 50.9 years (CIA, 2002). The incidence of HIV/AIDS, for instance, is over 5 percent, claiming 2.7 million lives in  1999 (CIA, 2002). There are more than 250 ethnic groups in the country, English is the official language but only about half the populous speaks it (Iowa State University, 2002;  Ferguson, 2002). Pidgin English is also commonly used, especially for bargaining in the marketplace (Iowa State University, 2002). The three primary indigenous languages are Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo (Iowa State  University, 2002). Gestures are also important in the communication between people (Ferguson, 2002). Visitors must be very careful of the kinds of hand gestures they make, however, because some gestures  are considered vulgar, such as pushing the palm of your hand forward and spreading the fingers (Ferguson, 2002). Another custom is to never use ones left hand to pass an  object, one must use both hands or only the right hand (Ferguson, 2002). Nigerian families follow the patriarchal model with rights of inheritance going to male members of the family  (University of Toronto, 2002). In many of the subcultures, polygamy is endorsed by Islam and is still practiced (WIN News, 1998). Marriages are still arranged and girls are given in  youth to solidify the relationships between families (WIN News, 1998). Often, extended families live together - parents, children, spouses, grandchildren and other family members may all live together (University of  Toronto, 2002). This is especially true in rural areas (University of Toronto, 2002). There is a very strict system of seniority, a hierarchy, for instance, only seniors and superiors may  address a person by their first name, siblings may not address an older sibling by their first name (University of Toronto, 2002). The system is slowly changing away from the