Nigeria - Rob Bowden

Nigeria has a population composed of over 250 ethnic groups. It has a history that goes back at least 11,000 years; a wide variety of landscapes, from tropical rainforests to beautiful white-sand beaches; and abundant oil and gas reserves. However, Nigeria has many problems. In 1999, after almost three decades of military rule, the country returned to civilian, democratic government, but it will take time to reverse the damage inflicted by corrupt military regimes in the past. There is an enormous gap between rich and poor, with 80 per cent of the country's oil and gas revenues going to 1 per cent of its population. At the start of the twenty-first century, Nigeria still has a long way to go in order to meet the unrealized ambitions of its people.

Rob Bowden is a development geographer who has taught international Environment and Development courses at the universities of Sussex and Brighton. He specialises in African issues and has written several children's books about the region. As well as writing, he runs an educational resourcing and consultancy company. He is a keen photographer and some of his images are used in his books. In 1999 his book 'Journey Through Africa' was highly commended by the Geographical Association and he has also been commended for his great contribution to education.