The University of Ibadan remained Nigeria's only university for twelve years before the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was established in 1960. Eleven universities followed between 1962 and 1975, increasing the number to 13 federal government-owned universities.
The first state university was established in Rivers State in 1979, marking the beginning of the displacement of the federal government's ownership monopoly. Six state and nine federal universities were added in the 1980s, with four federal universities added in 1988, the year of the first Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
While state-owned universities have grown steadily, slightly outpacing those owned by the federal government, private universities have displaced both, increasing from three institutions in 1999 to 33 in 2007, 60 in 2015, and 149 in 2024. There are now more private universities than federal and state universities combined.
Nigeria occupies the 30th spot globally in the English Proficiency Index, achieving a score of 557, just behind Kenya (581) and South Africa (594). As one of Africa's linguistic leaders, this ranking highlights Nigeria’s strength in English proficiency, a vital skill driving communication, business, and education across the continent.
This data comes from the EF English Proficiency Index, which aggregated the test results of 2.2m adults from 113 countries and regions. Countries where English is the primary native spoken language are not included in this ranking. Ranks are determined by each country’s average score in the EF Standard English Test (EF SET).
First Class Honours at the Nigerian Law School have been a rarity, but 2023 saw a notable rise. At 251, it is the highest number of First Class candidates in a decade, 2x the number in 2022.
Fail rates at the Nigerian Law School have declined from 33% in 2014 to 11% in 2023. Over the same period, second-class lower has overtaken the pass grade as the most common outcome.
The cost of primary school education in Nigeria varies significantly across geopolitical zones. The cost, which factors in tuition fees, learning materials, uniforms, etc., is highest in the South South at ₦43,783, while the North East has the lowest at ₦9,562.
Ninety-eight per cent of children aged 5 to 14 in the South East and South South zones are enroled in school, compared to significantly lower numbers in the North. For example, in the North East, only 56% of female children are in school.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) disbursed tuition loans to 58 institutions, with the South West region accounting for 20 institutions. The South South and South East regions had the fewest beneficiaries, with only five institutions each.
Millions of children missing basic education can affect future workforce skill levels and poverty cycles, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the highest number of out-of-school children.
Between 2000 and 2023, Central and Southern Asia achieved a 72% reduction in out-of-school primary-age children, the largest global improvement.
Meanwhile, sub-Saharan Africa only managed a 4.4% decrease. This highlights the critical need for educational investment in regions still lagging behind.
Nigeria's primary school enrolment has increased significantly, reaching 30.5 million enrolments in 2021. This highlights the country's efforts to expand access to education, with consistent annual growth in enrolments over the past two decades.
Notably, male enrolments have consistently surpassed female enrolments annually, but the gaps keep decreasing, signaling continued efforts towards gender parity in education.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), established by the Federal Government of Nigeria, has disbursed over ₦5 billion in tuition payments to 58 universities, with Bayero University, Kano State, receiving ₦834 million.
