 Notable British Nigerians: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Shirley Bassey, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Seal, Christine Ohuruogu, Olaudah Equiano Osi Umenyiora, Lemar, Tupele Dorgu |
| Total population |
|---|
| Nigerian-born residents 88,378 (2001 Census) 140,000 (2008 ONS estimate) |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Throughout the United Kingdom In particular Greater London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield |
| Languages |
|
Predominantly |
| Religion |
|
Predominantly |
British Nigerian is a term sometimes used to describe British people of Nigerian descent.[1][2] Many Nigerians and their British-born descendents live in South London.[3] The UK is home to the world's second largest Nigerian-born population, behind only Nigeria itself and slightly ahead of the United States.[4]
Contents |
History
Nigerians have formed long-established communities in London, Liverpool and other industrial cities. Nigerians came to London over 200 years ago as a result of the transatlantic slave trade. Olaudah Equiano, born in what is now Nigeria, was involved in the debate that occurred in Britain over the abolition of the slave trade.[5]
Prior to Nigeria's independence from Britain, gained in 1960, many Nigerians studied in the UK along with other countries such as France and the United States, with the majority returning to Nigeria upon completion of their studies.[6] In the 1960s, civil and political unrest in Nigeria contributed to many refugees arriving in Britain, along with skilled workers.[5] Nigerians migrated in larger numbers in the 1980s, following the collapse of the petroleum boom.[6] This wave of migration has been more permanent than the pre-independence wave of temporary migration.[6] Asylum applications from Nigerians peaked in 1995, when the repression associated with the military dictatorship of Sani Abacha was at its height.[6]
Population
| Location | Nigerian-born population (2001)[7] |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | 1,382 |
| East of England | 3,160 |
| London | 68,910 |
| North East England | 552 |
| North West England | 2,978 |
| Scotland | 1,253 |
| South East England | 4,719 |
| South West England | 1,431 |
| Wales | 588 |
| West Midlands | 1,759 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 1,399 |
The 2001 UK Census recorded 88,378 Nigerian-born people resident in the UK.[4] More recent estimates by the Office for National Statistics put the figure at 140,000 in 2008.[8]
A Council of Europe report gives a figure of 100,000 Nigerians in the UK but suggests that this is likely to be an underestimate since it does not include irregular migrants or children.[9] Meanwhile, in its country profile for Nigeria, the British Foreign Office states that the Nigerian community in the UK has between 800,000 and 3 million members.[10]
Distribution
The UK's largest concentration of Nigerians is found in the capital city, London. Peckham is now home to the largest overseas Nigerian community in the UK, with 7 per cent of the population of the Peckham census tract at the time of the 2001 Census having been born in Nigeria.[7] Many of the local establishments are Yoruba owned. Nigerian churches and mosques can be found in the area. As immigrants have become assimilated, English has increasingly become the predominant language of the local Nigerian British population. The Yoruba language is declining in use in the Peckham area despite the growing Nigerian population.[3]
Outside London and South East England, the largest Nigerian-born communities are found in the East of England and the North West.[7]
Citizenship
Below is a table showing how many Nigerians were granted British citizenship and the right of abode in the period 1998 to 2008.
| Persons granted citizenship | |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 3,550[11] |
| 1999 | 3,481[12] |
| 2000 | 5,594[13] |
| 2001 | 6,290[14] |
| 2002 | 6,480[15] |
| 2003 | 6,300[16] |
| 2004 | 6,280[17] |
| 2005 | 6,615[18] |
| 2006 | 5,875[19] |
| 2007 | 6,030[20] |
| 2008 | 4,530[21] |
Famous British Nigerians
References
- ^ Temko, Ned (2006-05-14). "'Think Jamaica is bad? Try Nigeria...': How Diane Abbott enraged a community". The Observer: p. 21. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/may/14/uk.labour1. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ Davies, Christie (2006-12-12). "No apology for slavery – no deep sorrow: Christie Davies explains why apologies for centuries-old wrongs are not in order". Social Affairs Unit. http://www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/blog/archives/001301.php. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b White, Robin (2005-01-25). "Little Lagos in south London". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4182341.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b "Country-of-birth database". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/23/34792376.xls. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
- ^ a b "Nigerian London". BBC London. http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/05/26/nigerian_london_feature.shtml. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b c d Change Institute (April 2009). "The Nigerian Muslim Community in England: Understanding Muslim Ethnic Communities". London: Communities and Local Government. pp. 23–24. http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/communities/pdf/1203232.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ a b c "Born abroad: Nigeria". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/uk/05/born_abroad/countries/html/nigeria.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ "Table 1.3: Estimated population resident in the United Kingdom, by foreign country of birth, 60 most common countries of birth, January 2008 to December 2008". Office for National Statistics. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/Population-by-country-of-birth-and-nationality-Jan08-Dec08.zip. Retrieved 2009-09-29. Figure given is the central estimate. See the source for 95 per cent confidence intervals.
- ^ "Immigration from sub-Saharan Africa". Report, Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Doc. 11526. 2008-02-11. http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc08/EDOC11526.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
- ^ "Nigeria". Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 2008-02-13. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/sub-saharan-africa/nigeria?profile=intRelations&pg=4. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
- ^ Chilton, Tony; Kilsby, Peter (1999-04-20). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1998". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb699.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Kilsby, Peter; McGregor, Rod (2000-06-08). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 1999". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb1000.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Dudley, Jill; Harvey, Paul (2001-05-31). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2000". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb901.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Dudley, Jill; Hesketh, Krystina (2002-06-27). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2001". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb602.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Dudley, Jill; Woollacott, Simon (2003-08-28). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2002". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb903.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Dudley, Jill; Woollacott, Simon (2004-05-24). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2003". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/hosb0704.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Woollacott, Simon (2005-05-17). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2004". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb0805.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Freelove Mensah, John (2006-05-23). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2005". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb0906.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Freelove Mensah, John (2006-05-23). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2006". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0807.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Freelove Mensah, John (2008-05-20). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2007". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0508.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
- ^ Freelove Mensah, John (2008-05-20). "Persons Granted British Citizenship, United Kingdom, 2008". Home Office. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0909.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
External links
- Voice of Africa Radio
- West African Business Association
- Igbo Cultural & Support Network
- Nigerian Carnival UK
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