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.
When Olusegun Obasanjo took office in 1999, the exchange rate was ₦97 to $1; it was ₦128 under Yar'Adua in 2007. During Jonathan's tenure in 2010 it was ₦151 while it was ₦199 when Buhari was in office.
Despite efforts to let market forces decide the rate, the naira continues to weaken. Will the current administration turn things around soon?
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.
As of 2022, the top five African countries indebted to the World Bank — Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania — accounted for 46% of the continent's outstanding debt with the institution.
Forty-eight African countries collectively owed around $125 billion, representing 31% of the total global debt of $408 billion. These are the top ten countries from 1970 to 2022.
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.
In 2023, Nigerian students emerged as the third-highest recipients of Canadian study permits, behind India and China.
This marked a jump from their fifth position in 2022, when 16,105 study permits were issued to its citizens.
India maintained its position as the top source country, followed by China. The Philippines, Nepal, and France retained their places in the top ten.
Compared to 2022, there was a remarkable surge of 133.7% in the issuance of Canadian study permits to Nigerians in 2023. After experiencing a decline in 2020 (-22%), the number of Nigerian study permit recipients rebounded strongly.
Globally, the issuance of Canadian study permits witnessed an increase of 24.6%, climbing from 548,610 in 2022 to 683,585 in 2023.
Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) generated ₦1.07 trillion revenue in 2023 — double 2020's amount and 3.8x that of 2015. From 2015 to 2023, revenue has grown from ₦279b to ₦1.07t, while customer base has increased by over 5m, from 7m to 12.1m.
After peaking at ₦5.69b in 2021, Nigeria's railway revenue from passengers has fallen for two consecutive years, dropping to ₦4.43b in 2023. Cargo revenue, on the other hand, reached its highest (₦1.08b) in 2023.y revenue from passengers has fallen for two consecutive years, dropping to ₦4.43b in 2023. Cargo revenue, on the other hand, reached its highest (₦1.08b) in 2023.
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.
