Despite various cash assistance programmes, including the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program, and extensive macroeconomic reforms such as the unification of the exchange rate and the removal of fuel subsidies, poverty in Nigeria rose to 38.9% in 2023, leaving 87 million Nigerians in poverty.
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.
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.
Birth asphyxia is a condition where a baby does not receive sufficient oxygen before, during, and after birth. It is a leading cause of early neonatal mortality and was selected as an indicator in the assessment of the management of maternal and neonatal complications in Nigeria.
The percentage of health facilities surveyed that provide appropriate treatment for birth asphyxia varies from as low as 19.4% in the North West to as high as 50.3% in the South-South. With no zone exceeding 50%, significant gaps remain in reducing infant mortality in Nigeria.
Management of maternal and neonatal health complications is crucial to reducing maternal and infant mortality rates in Nigeria. In a newly released National Health Facility Report 2023 by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, competence in managing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) varies across zones and states.
PPH is a situation where a woman experiences heavy bleeding after giving birth and is the leading cause of maternal mortality. Across the health facilities surveyed, the North East has the highest percentage of facilities providing appropriate treatment for PPH at 50.2%, which reflects the generally low provision of the needed care for PPH across the country.
The distribution of doctors across Nigeria shows disparities, with regional inequities in healthcare professionals. The North East, with only 2,420 doctors, has the lowest number of doctors among all geopolitical zones. This is less than half of the North West's total and significantly lags behind the South West, which leads with 13,624 doctors. The gender gap is also evident, as there are more male doctors across all regions.
Lagos State stands out with 7,385 doctors, far surpassing the next in line, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Meanwhile, five of the six states in the North East rank among the bottom ten states.
N.B. Unspecified bar represents doctors with unverifiable location identities.
The distribution of doctors across Nigeria shows disparities, with regional inequities in healthcare professionals. The North East, with only 2,420 doctors, has the lowest number of doctors among all geopolitical zones. This is less than half of the North West's total and significantly lags behind the South West, which leads with 13,624 doctors. The gender gap is also evident, as there are more male doctors across all regions.
Lagos State stands out with 7,385 doctors, far surpassing the next in line, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Meanwhile, five of the six states in the North East rank among the bottom ten states.
N.B. Unspecified bar represents doctors with unverifiable location identities.
One of the major concerns in the workplace in 2024 is about how artificial intelligence (AI) will redefine jobs.
Only a small percentage of people in Nigeria are not sure about how AI will affect their jobs, with another 90.8% believing that they are safe and will work together with AI.
Nigeria held the top spot in global cashew production from 2001 to 2010. This highlights a period of strong agricultural output, though the country has since been overtaken by India and Côte d'Ivoire. In recent years, Côte d'Ivoire has emerged as the world’s leading cashew producer, holding the top spot for three consecutive years as of 2022. This shift highlights the country's growing role in global cashew production. India and Mozambique once dominated global production, with India leading for 35 of the past 62 years.
Once the world’s leading cashew producer, Nigeria saw production fall below 100k tonnes in 2022 after hitting a high of 800,000 tonnes in 2009. Despite this decline, experts believe the sector could generate $2.4 billion in foreign exchange annually if production is increased.
The short-lived administration of General Muritala Mohammed established the most universities in a year of any military administration. In 1975, a federal university was established in Calabar, Ilorin, Jos, Kano, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, and Sokoto.
The Goodluck Jonathan-led administration moved to ensure a federal university in every state without one, creating 12 universities in three years—a move criticised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The creation of specialised universities marked the 2015-2023 Muhammadu Buhari administration through the upgrade of colleges of education and the establishment of health sciences and agricultural universities.
UNILAG and OAU admitted the most students in the South West in 2017, with 9,168 and 8,135, respectively. However, OAU has seen a steady decline in its admissions, reaching a low of 3,127 in 2021 when UNILAG also saw a significant dip in admissions.
FUOYE, the region's only federal university established in the 2000s, increased admissions from 5,483 in 2017 to 8,614 in 2022, admitting the highest number of students in the region. UI, Nigeria's oldest university, has maintained a steady admission count between 3,900 and 4,400 in the years under consideration.
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.
