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Popular Insights
  • Over the years, the value of the Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWL) has been on a massive downward trend compared to the US Dollar (USD). This has led to the latter accounting for most of the domestic transactions in the Southern African country. The ZWL went from 10,152.5 to USD 1 as of January 1, 2024, to 30,674.3 on April 1, 2024. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is introducing a gold-backed digital currency as a legal tender to stabilise its currency.
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    In Q3 2023, Nigeria's GDP soared, with almost every sector recording year-on-year growth. Noteworthy growth includes Information and Communication, which increased by 40% compared to Q3 2022. Check out the chart for a quick overview.

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  • Top ten African countries by estimated number of films produced annually

    The Nigerian movie industry, mainly financed via public or private funding and international grants, produces the most films in Africa, yearly. Nigeria produced more than double the number of films that the Ghanaian and Kenyan movie industries produce annually.

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    Only 10% of Nigerians earn above ₦100,000, according to the Nigerian Financial Services Market Report. This aligns with most reports about Nigeria, and it's in sharp contrast to the narratives online.
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  • Nigeria was the seventh most populous nation in the world in 2020, with 206.1 million people. Projected to reach a population of 401.3 million by 2050, Nigeria will rank third after India (1st) and China (2nd). According to Institut national d'études démographiques' projections, Nigeria, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Egypt, Tanzania, and Kenya will be among the world’s top 20 most populous countries by 2050.

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    Every Nigerian president since 1999 left office with a higher dollar to naira exchange rate than when they took office. Will President Tinubu's tenure be the exception?

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  • In Q4 2023, Spectranet maintained its top position as Nigeria's biggest internet service provider with nearly 114k active subscribers, holding 43% of the market share. FiberOne followed with 10% of the market.

    Starlink increased its subscriber base by 113% to claim the 3rd position with 9% of the market.

    Here are Nigeria's top internet service providers by active subscribers in Q4 2023.

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  • A Trend of Adult literacy rates of African countries

    Between 2018 and 2021, adult literacy rates across African nations exhibited significant disparities. Seychelles and South Africa led with literacy rates of 96% and 95%, respectively, indicating a high proportion of literate adults. Conversely, Chad had the lowest literacy rate during this period.

    These statistics underscore the uneven progress in educational attainment across Africa, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve literacy in lower-performing nations.

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  • Top ten African countries by estimated number of films produced annually

    The Nigerian movie industry, mainly financed via public or private funding and international grants, produces the most films in Africa, yearly. Nigeria produced more than double the number of films that the Ghanaian and Kenyan movie industries produce annually.

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Other Insights
  • The mobility score improved dramatically from 42 in 2015 to 56 in 2023, highlighting a significant enhancement in travel freedom for Nigerian passport holders.
  • A sharp decline occurred in 2020, dropping to 44, likely reflecting global travel disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Post-pandemic recovery is evident in the score rebounding to 48 in 2021 and surging to 54 by 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
  • The overall trend shows a steady upward trajectory from 2017 onward, suggesting successful diplomatic and policy initiatives aimed at expanding visa-free travel.
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International Women's Day 2025
  • There are nearly 600 million women aged 15-24 worldwide, with 90% living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), making them a significant share of the global population.
  • 37 countries grant women less than half of the legal rights of men, affecting 500 million women, while globally, women enjoy less than two-thirds of the legal rights available to men.
  • Closing the gender gap in employment and entrepreneurship could boost global GDP by over 20%, and eliminating the gap within a decade could double the global growth rate.
  • Women hold just 1 in 5 corporate board positions, partly because less than 20% of countries require gender-sensitive public procurement, excluding them from a $10 trillion-a-year opportunity.
  • Women earn only 77 cents for every $1 paid to men, while 92 countries lack equal pay laws. Additionally, 20 countries prohibit women from night work and 45 ban women from “dangerous” jobs.
  • By 2030, an estimated 8% of the world’s female population (342.4 million women and girls) will still live on less than $2.15 a day, with 220.9 million in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Climate change could push 158.3 million more women and girls into poverty by 2050, which is 16 million more than men and boys under a worst-case scenario.
  • By 2020, food insecurity was projected to impact 236 million more women and girls, compared to 131 million more men and boys.
  • By 2050, women will still spend 2.5 times more hours per day on unpaid care work than men. If valued monetarily, women’s unpaid labor could exceed 40% of GDP in some countries.
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Suspected diphtheria cases reported in Nigeria (2022 - 2025)
  • With 24,062 cases, Kano accounts for the highest number of suspected diphtheria cases, making up a significant portion of the total outbreak in Nigeria.
  • Yobe recorded 5,330 cases, while Katsina had 3,939 cases, reinforcing the concentration of diphtheria in northern states.
  • Bauchi and Borno report similar case counts, with 3,066 and 3,035 cases, respectively.
  • Kaduna (777 cases) and Jigawa (364 cases) report fewer cases but remain part of the seven states contributing to 96.6% of the outbreak.
  • Other states combined report 1,405 cases, showing that diphtheria is largely a regional issue.
  • Northern states dominate the case count, signaling potential regional healthcare and vaccination disparities.
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Nigerian financial institutions’ contribution to GDP (2016–Q1 2024)
 
  • At 6.40%, financial institutions now contribute more than ever to Nigeria’s GDP.
  • From 3.60% in 2022 to 6.40% in Q1 2024, the sector’s share has nearly doubled in record time.
  • Between 2016 and 2019, the financial sector's contribution remained mostly flat at 2.60%–2.70%, showing little progress.
  • The financial sector started expanding post-2019, aligning with increased fintech adoption, digital banking growth, and financial inclusion policies.
  • The increasing role of financial institutions suggests more businesses and individuals are engaging with formal banking systems.
  • Despite economic uncertainties, Nigeria’s financial sector has successfully adapted and expanded, proving its ability to drive growth.
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Number of countries anticipated to either have sufficient or shortage of primary school teachers by region (2030)
  • Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of countries (37) expected to face a teacher shortage at the [primary levels.
  • In Latin America & the Caribbean, 18 countries are expected to have enough primary teachers.
  • Europe & Northern America is one of the best-performing after Latin America & the Caribbean, with 17 countries expected to meet primary teachers' demand.
  • If this trend continues, millions of children will struggle to access quality primary education, reinforcing cycles of poverty and limited economic mobility.
  • A lack of teachers doesn’t just mean fewer classrooms; it also means overburdened educators, lower student engagement, and declining educational outcomes.
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Key Takeaways:

  • Nigeria's total revenue decreased from 17.73% of GDP in 2011 to 9.09% in 2022.
  • The lowest point for the country’s revenue occurred in 2016, at only 5.12% of GDP.
  • Although there has been some recovery since 2016, revenue still falls well below the levels seen before 2015.
  • The sharpest decline took place between 2011 and 2016, with revenue dropping by over 12 percentage points.
  • In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant drop to 6.52%, followed by a period of recovery.
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Key takeaways:

  • Amidst the overall upward rise in inflation since May 2023, Nigeria experienced a brief relief with slight declines between June and September 2024.
  • The inflation rate in May 2024 was 11.54% points higher than that of June 2023.
  • The inflation rate in Nigeria increased by approximately 55% from May 2023 to December 2024.
  • In December 2024, the inflation rate increased by about 4.9% points when compared to January 2024.
  • Between December 2024 and January 2025, the inflation rate dropped by 10.32%.
  • The National Bureau of Statistics rebased the Consumer Price Index from 2009 to 2024 in January 2025.
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Key takeaways:

  • Polaris Bank traces its roots back to the establishment of Prudent Bank Plc in 1989.
  • Prudent Merchant Bank Limited merged with Bond Bank Limited, EIB International Bank Plc, Reliance Bank Limited, and Co-operative Bank Plc to create Skye Bank Plc.
  • In 2014, Skye Bank Plc acquired Mainstreet Bank Limited.
  • The Central Bank of Nigeria revoked Skye Bank's operating license in 2018, and Polaris Bank Limited subsequently took over its assets and liabilities.
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Key takeaways:

  • In 2015, Wema Bank transitioned from being a regional bank to achieving national bank status.
  • To promote innovation and cooperation within the tech community, Wema Bank organised its inaugural hackathon, "Hackaholics", in 2019.
  • The bank has continually prioritised innovation, particularly with the introduction of ALAT, Nigeria's pioneer fully digital banking service.
  • Wema Bank holds the distinction of being Nigeria's oldest indigenous bank still in operation.
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  • Nigeria recorded its highest-ever Chinese FDI inflow of $390.4 million in 2007
  • The second-highest inflow of $333.1 million was recorded in 2012
  • FDI from China to Nigeria fluctuated significantly over the years, with major peaks in 2007, 2012, and 2020
  • 2022 saw a decline in Chinese FDI to Nigeria, falling to $119.6 million from $308.9 million in 2020
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Key Takeaways:

  • As of March 13, 2025, Elon Musk is the sole individual whose net worth exceeds $300 billion.
  • Mark Zuckerberg is recognised as the youngest member among the top ten wealthiest individuals globally.
  • The exclusive $200 Billion Club features just three members: Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg.
  • The combined wealth of the ten richest individuals in the world totals around $1.8 trillion.
  • Eight individuals in the top ten wealth ranking list hail from the United States.
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Number of smartphone handsets in use around the world (2015 - 2025)
  • From 2.99B in 2015 to 7.42B in January 2025, the world has added more than 4.4 billion smartphone devices in a decade.
  • Annual growth dropped from a high of 23.1% in 2016 to 3.6% in 2025, a clear sign of global market saturation.
  • During 2016-2018, the world added nearly 2 billion new smartphones.
  • Since 2020, annual growth has been under 6%.
  • Most of the future growth will come from device upgrades or multiple device ownership, not necessarily new smartphone users.
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Number of individuals globally using the internet since the creation of the first website (1991 - 2025)
  • Between 1995 and 2000, internet users jumped from 39.4 million to 394 million, a 900% leap that marked the beginning of the digital era.
  • Just 14 years after the first website, over 1 billion people were online, showing how quickly the internet became essential.
  • Between 2010 and 2015, internet usage grew by 54.5%, slower than before but still powerful, especially in developing regions coming online.
  • With 5.6 billion users in January 2025, most of the world is now online, and future growth will be more about improving access, speed, and quality than just connecting new people.
  • Each phase had its catalyst. In the 1990s, it was websites and email. The 2000s brought broadband and Google. In the 2010s, it was smartphones. Now, it's AI, 5G, and IoT that are quietly shaping the future of internet use.
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CAGR of nominal GDP per capita of the top ten African economies (2020 - 2024)
  • At -16.02% CAGR, Nigeria's GDP per capita is shrinking fast, signalling deep economic strain on its population despite being a top 4 African economy.
  • Angola recorded 8.28% CAGR, showing that smaller economies can drive significant per capita progress when policies and investments align with citizen welfare.
  • With 8.23% CAGR, Algeria continues to transform national wealth into measurable benefits for its people.
  • Ethiopia’s 6.86% annual growth in GDP per capita highlights how consistent development efforts can raise living standards even in densely populated, developing nations.
  • A modest 2.52% CAGR for South Africa might not sound like much, but in a mature economy, this reflects resilience and relative stability in per capita income.
  • Egypt has a -1.41% CAGR, showing mild contraction, but far less severe than Nigeria’s economic shrinkage.
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Nominal GDP per capita of top 10 African economies (2024)
  • Despite being among the top 4 economies by size, Nigeria ranks low in GDP per capita, revealing a disconnect between total wealth and individual prosperity.
  • With the highest nominal GDP and highest per capita GDP, South Africa showcases balanced growth and better wealth distribution.
  • Countries like Ethiopia and Nigeria have huge populations, which dilutes their GDP and drags down per capita figures.
  • Though fifth in total GDP, Morocco performs better in GDP per capita, highlighting efficiency in wealth distribution.
  • This proves that a country’s economic “size” doesn’t always translate to individual opportunity, wealth, or standard of living.
  • Economies like Nigeria and Ethiopia must focus not just on increasing GDP but on ensuring that economic growth improves lives at the grassroots level.
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Key Takeaways:
  • The United States exported $318.7 million worth of agricultural products to Nigeria in 2024.
  • Wheat accounted for nearly half of the US' agricultural exports to Nigeria, valued at $148 million.
  • The trade balance substantially favours the United States, with exports to Nigeria ($318.7 million) nearly double imports ($114.7 million).
  • The top three products account for 74.49% of all agricultural exports to Nigeria.
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Key Takeaways:
  • Oilseed meal and cake constituted the United States' largest agricultural import from Nigeria, valued at $29.9 million.
  • Total US agricultural imports from Nigeria in 2024 amounted to $114.7 million.
  • Cocoa beans represented 19% ($21.8 million) of Nigeria's agricultural exports to the US.
  • Oilseed, cocoa, and tea collectively accounted for 59% of the total agricultural exports from Nigeria to the United States.
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