Number of people from sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, and Nigeria who studied in the US between 2001 and 2020
The number of people from sub-Saharan Africa studying in the US was highest in 2020 — 41,697. Here is the trend of sub-Saharan African, West African, and Nigerian students in the US from 2001 to 2020.
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.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed ₦5,092,110,672 to 46,665 students across 58 institutions in Nigeria, specifically for tuition payment.
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.
