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.
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.
Newzoo, a provider of video game and gamer data, reported that in 2023, Nigerian mobile gamers spent approximately $229.7m — the highest expenditure in Africa — boasting a sizable 14.7m spenders.
Egypt's gamers spent an estimated $212.6m and occupied second place in Africa's mobile gaming expenditure ranking.
Food and packaged water dominate NAFDAC registration, as close to 50% of all products registered between 2020 and 2022 were either food or packaged water. This suggests a significant focus on ensuring the safety and quality of these essential commodities. Human drugs also make up a substantial portion of registered products, reflecting the importance of regulating medications to protect public health. Cosmetics and herbal drugs follow closely with 13.2% and 6.5%, respectively.
Lagos State leads the dental healthcare workforce in Nigeria with an impressive 713 dentists, a figure over three times higher than any other state. This dominance shows Lagos' position as a hub for healthcare professionals. Trailing far behind are the FCT (Abuja) with 208 dentists and Oyo with 185.
The gap becomes even more glaring when examining the bottom states like Taraba, with only eight dentists, and others such as Jigawa and Abia, with just nine each. These numbers paint a concerning picture for residents of these regions, who may face long travel distances or extended waiting times to access basic dental care. Interestingly, Borno State, which faces security challenges, has 53 dentists, surpassing several other states.
The Global Innovation Index 2024 reveals a striking contrast in innovation performance between countries globally and across Africa. Switzerland leads the global rankings with an impressive score of 67.5, followed by Sweden (64.5) and the USA (62.4), highlighting their sustained investments in research, development, and technological advancement.
In Africa, Mauritius takes the top spot with a score of 30.5, followed closely by Morocco (28.8) and South Africa (28.3). However, even Africa's most innovative nations achieve less than half the score of global leaders, indicating a significant innovation gap.
Nigeria ranks 15th in the African ranking and 113th globally, out of 133 countries, with a score of 17.1.
Nigeria's national grid has experienced 12 collapses so far in 2024, a troubling trend that reveals the fragility of the country's energy infrastructure. The timeline highlights intervals ranging from as short as one day to as long as 82 days between incidents. Notably, two consecutive collapses occurred on October 14 and October 15, while a total of 9 collapses occurred in the second half of the year.
Yesterday's collapse came 35 days after November 7, when the grid went down for the 11th time.
In 2024, the top ten universities in Nigeria graduated 3,047 first-class students. Seventeen per cent of private university students in Nigeria earned first-class degrees, compared to 3% in federal/state universities.
The University of Benin convocated the most first-class students (385), while the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) had the least, with 122.
Covenant University had the highest proportion, with one in five students graduating with a first class.
Participation in Nigeria’s National Open Apprenticeship Scheme has dropped by over 50% since 2021, with male and female enrolments declining significantly; over the years, there have been more female participants. The declining participation rates raise questions about awareness, funding, and programme efficiency.
For many Nigerian youths, apprenticeship programmes are a gateway to self-reliance and stable income. The National Open Apprenticeship Scheme is a National Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme that upskills unskilled and unemployed people and equips them with relevant demand-driven skills.
