• Africa ranks 5th globally in total reserves. The continent’s $375B in reserves lags behind most regions, surpassing only Oceania.
• Asia leads with $8.24T, over half of global reserves, maintaining the strongest reserve and continent buffer driven by China, Japan, and India.
• Europe holds nearly five times Africa’s reserves, with $3.68T.
• South America’s $590B reserves is 57% more than Africa’s.
• Oceania remains the lowest with $84.8B.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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