Nigeria尼日利亚

Curatorial Note

The national atlas tradition in Nigeria emerged in the late 1970s, a period when many newly independent African nations sought to consolidate their territorial identities through cartographic self-representation. The sole atlas in this collection, the *Atlas of the Federal Republic of Nigeria* (1978), stands as a landmark of this effort. Published in English, it was a comprehensive single-volume work that aimed to depict the country's physical geography, administrative divisions, population distribution, and economic resources. Its editorial approach was systematic and state-centric, reflecting a desire to present Nigeria as a unified, modern nation-state to both domestic and international audiences. The atlas drew on data from federal surveys and ministries, and its cartographic style followed contemporary international standards, with thematic maps accompanied by explanatory notes. While no subsequent national atlases appear in this collection, the 1978 work remains a foundational reference for later geographical studies and policy planning. It also exemplifies the broader post-colonial trend of using national atlases as tools for nation-building, resource management, and educational outreach, cementing its place as a key artifact in understanding Nigeria's spatial self-image.