Question 3
(a) Mention any three ethnic groups in Nigeria.
(b) Identify any four ways in which geography influenced human activities in pre-colonial societies in Nigeria.
Observation
This was a popular question. The section A was correctly answered by the candidates who attempted the question. However, in section B candidates could not establish the relationship between geography and human activities, some of them did not understand ‘human activities’ while others failed to determine what made up geography within the context of the question. The relevant points which ought to have been discussed are listed below.
(a)
(i) Hausa; (x) Urhobo; (xix) Idoma; (xxviii)Angas;
(ii) Fulani; (xi) Edo; (xx) Tiv; (xxix)Katab/Kataf;
(iii) Yoruba; (xii) Isoko; (xxi) Nupe; (xxx) Birom;
(iv) Igbo; (xiii) Ibibio; (xxii) Gwari/Gbagyi; (xxxii) Jukun;
(v) Ijaw/Izon; (xiv) Efik; (xxiii) Kanuri; (xxxii) Batta.
(vi) Itsekeri ; (xv) Igala; (xxiv) Chamba;
(vii) Mumuye ; (xvi) Margi; (xxv) Jarawa ;
(viii) Tangale ; (xvii) Ningawa; (xxvi) Dukawa ;
(ix) Bussawa ; (xviii) Bariba/Ibari ; (xxvii) Ebira/Igbira ;
(b) (i) Geography influenced the production of food crops e.g. cereals, root crops such as yam, cocoyam, cassava.
(ii) It also influenced the rearing of animals such as cattle, sheep, goats etc.
(iii) Areas that had mineral deposits engaged in mining activities e.g. Tin Ore in Jos and iron in various parts of Nigeria.
(iv) It influenced cash crop production.
(v) It also influenced the mode of transportation among the various groups of people in Nigeria.
(vi) It influenced the occupation of the people.
(vii) It also affected the religious beliefs and practices of the people.
(viii) It influenced the system of political organization.
(ix) It affected the external relationship of the people.
(x) It also affected social life of the people.
(xi) It influenced military formation and the offensive and defensive strategies adopted by the people.
(xii) It influenced the trade pattern.