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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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    happiness-2024-65fdcc8a1f311

    Nigeria has ranked the 102nd happiest country of 143 countries surveyed globally as of 2024; it ranked 11th of 40 African countries.​
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    ​Libya ranked 66th globally and 1st in Africa, followed by Mauritius and South Africa in 70th and 83rd positions, respectively.

    The World Happiness Report ranks happiness based on GDP per capita, life expectancy, generosity, social support, freedom, and corruption.

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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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    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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    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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  • The FAAC's revenue distribution from 2017 to August 2023 highlights the dominance of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Bayelsa states in allocations. Despite Lagos' economic prominence, it ranked fifth. Here is the distribution of revenue among states between 2017 and August 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.

    See more

Other Insights
  • Men hold the majority share in crypto adoption (61%), indicating that the industry is still male-dominated despite growing female participation.
  • Over 219M women own crypto globally, showing that female adoption is increasing but still lags behind male ownership.
  • With 6.8% of the world’s population involved in crypto, adoption is growing, but there is still massive untapped potential, especially among women.
  • Bridging the gender gap could drive the next wave of crypto adoption, and greater financial inclusion and education could encourage more women to enter the space.
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Cumulative issuance of Eurobonds by African countries (Jan 2024 - Jan 2025)
  • African countries issued a total of $15.7 billion in Eurobonds, demonstrating continued reliance on external debt markets.
  • While the first ten months totaled $6.2 billion, November and December alone added $7.5 billion, marking a sharp increase.
  • The total issuance jumped from $6.2 billion in October to $10 billion in November and then $13.7 billion in December, showing a drastic shift in borrowing.
  • Eight African countries drove this activity, as the borrowing is concentrated among key economies.
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  • Sterling Bank's origins trace back to 1960 as Nigeria Acceptances Limited, later becoming the first merchant bank in 1969
  • In 2006, NAL Bank merged with four other banks, forming Sterling Bank as it is known today
  • Sterling explored several merger opportunities, including with Ecobank in 2008 and FirstRand in 2011, but these plans did not materialise
  • In 2023, Sterling transitioned into a holding company structure, spinning off its alternative finance arm as a standalone entity, AltBank
  • The bank began raising fresh capital in 2024, with shareholders approving a ₦200 billion equity capital raise and  securing a $50 million private placement as part of its recapitalisation
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  • FirstBank has undergone multiple transformations since its establishment in 1894, adapting to industry shifts and regulatory changes.
  • The bank transitioned from foreign ownership to local incorporation in 1969, aligning with Nigeria’s indigenisation policy.
  • Structural and branding changes continued, including its rebranding to First Bank of Nigeria in 1979 and restructuring into a holding company in 2012.
  • Recent developments include FBN Holdings’ name change to FirstHoldCo and the bank’s planned relocation of its headquarters to Eko Atlantic City in 2025.
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  • UAC Nigeria's ₦17 billion naira profit in 2024 is the highest since 2014
  • The company recorded losses in 2018, 2019 and 2022, with ₦9.5 billion, ₦9.2 billion and ₦4 billion losses, respectively
  • Profit recovery started in 2020 and improved significantly in 2023 and 2024
  • 2024’s unaudited profit is almost double the ₦8.9 billion recorded in 2023
  • Profitability has been volatile over the past decade, with major losses and strong rebounds
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  • UAC Nigeria's revenue has consistently grown since 2018, reaching ₦197.6 billion in 2024
  • 2024 saw the highest year-on-year revenue growth of 64%
  • The company recorded steady revenue increases from 2019 to 2023, growing by 14.5% annually on average
  • 2024's unaudited revenue figure marks a new milestone for UAC Nigeria
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Key takeaways:

  • The inflation rate experienced a growth rate of 60.5% from May 2023 to December 2024.
  • The May 2024 food inflation rate grew by 15.84% points higher than May 2023 levels.
  • The most significant monthly increase occurred in February 2024, when food inflation rose by 2.51% from January 2024.
  • Brief periods of relief were observed in July, August, and December 2024, when the rates showed slight declines.
  • The food inflation rate dropped by 13.76% between December 2024 and January 2025 due to CPI rebasing to 2024 from 2009.
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  • South-West drives Nigeria’s VAT but gets little back. The region remitted ₦341.38B (53%) but received only ₦99.85B (29% return).
  • South-South remitted ₦121.84B but got ₦52.49B (43% return); Rivers alone gave ₦90.21B but got just ₦11.01B.
  • The North enjoyed the highest VAT gains, remitting ₦66.18B and receiving ₦161.11B (240% return); the North-West got ₦66.75B from ₦28.31B (235% return).
  • South-East and North-East got the biggest VAT boost. South-East: ₦10.94B remitted, ₦39.13B received (357.6% return); North-East: ₦14.94B remitted, ₦46.68B received (312.5% return).
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  • South America led in growth, surging by 116.5%, signaling rapid adoption in emerging markets.
  • Europe and Oceania also saw explosive growth, with 60.3% and 114.3% increases, respectively.
  • Asia remained dominant, with the highest number of owners, growing to 326.8M in 2024.
  • Africa showed the slowest growth (8.5%), suggesting possible barriers like regulation or adoption hurdles.
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  • Lagos State’s IGR grew by 112%, from ₦384.26B in 2013 to a record ₦815.86B in 2023.
  • Revenue dipped to ₦268.22B in 2015 before recovering and steadily increasing.
  • A major jump occurred in 2019, with IGR rising from ₦382.18B to ₦646.61B in one year.
  • Despite a dip in 2022, IGR hit an all-time high in 2023, signalling a strong economic recovery.
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Key takeaways:

  • Throughout the decade, Nigeria saw a consistent decline in education funding as a percentage of GDP.
  • The most substantial allocation occurred in 2012 at 0.55% of GDP.
  • The lowest allocation was noted in 2022 at 0.35% of GDP.
  • There was a brief recovery from 2017 to 2018 before the downward trend resumed in 2019.
  • Over the decade, the overall reduction in education spending relative to GDP was approximately 36.5%.
  • Nigeria's education spending as a percentage of GDP is significantly lower than the UNESCO recommendation of 4-6% for developing nations.
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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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Total funding raised in West Africa, excluding exits (2019 - 2024)
  • Nigeria is the clear leader, securing over 80% of total startup funding in West Africa. Its ecosystem benefits from a strong fintech sector, a large market, and increased investor trust.
  • Ghana and Senegal are challengers, attracting $460M and $410M, respectively. These countries are proving they can compete but still have a long way to go to match Nigeria.
  • Nigeria’s startups raised over ten times more than Ghana, the second-highest country on the list. This highlights an imbalance in investor focus.
  • Benin ($133M) and Côte d'Ivoire ($107M) are rising players but remain in the shadows of the region’s top three. Their growing startup ecosystems could gain more traction with the right policies and investments.
  • Mali, Togo, and Sierra Leone struggle to attract major funding, receiving less than $30M each. This signals a need for stronger ecosystems and investor confidence in these markets.
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Share of global population - Top 10 countries as of 2025​
  • India is now the world’s most populous country, surpassing China with 17.78% of the global population.
  • China closely follows with 17.30%, showing that even though its population growth is slowing, it remains one of the most dominant globally.
  • The United States (4.23%) remains the most populous Western country, reinforcing its continued economic and political significance.
  • Nigeria leads Africa with 2.87% of the global population, showing that Africa's rising demographic weight will be a major factor in future economic and workforce trends.
  • Ethiopia (1.63%) is another African country on the rise, showing how Africa’s demographic shift is accelerating beyond just Nigeria.
  • Russia (1.76%) is the only European country on the list, underscoring Europe’s declining share in global population dynamics compared to the rapid growth of Asian and African nations.
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  • In 2023, over 324 million chickens were slaughtered in Nigeria, making them the dominant source of meat.
  • Goats and sheep followed at 28.23 million and 19.45 million, respectively, but their slaughter numbers were far lower than poultry.
  • Pigs accounted for 8.11 million slaughters, while cows were the least slaughtered at 3.32 million, likely due to their higher economic value.
  • The disparity in slaughter numbers highlights Nigeria's preference for poultry over red meat, aligning with global trends in cost-effective protein consumption.
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  • Moniepoint began as TeamApt in 2015, building solutions for banks before pivoting to agent banking in 2019.
  • In 2022, Moniepoint secured a banking license, launched business banking, and processed 5.2 billion transactions.
  • The company rebranded to Moniepoint in 2023, relocated to the UK, and launched personal banking.
  • By 2024, Moniepoint achieved unicorn status, with over $200 million in total funding.
  • In 2025, Moniepoint plans to expand into contactless payments and remittances through Monieworld.
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  • Nigeria leads Africa in total arable land with 36,872,000 hectares, more than twice that of Niger, the second-ranking country.
  • Niger ranks second with 17,700,000 hectares.
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ranks third with 13,680,000 hectares, revealing the role of Central Africa in agricultural land availability.
  • Other notable countries include Chad (5.3M hectares), Zambia (3.8M hectares), and Guinea (3.1M hectares).
  • The countries at the bottom of the top ten list, such as Congo (550,000 hectares), Liberia (500,000 hectares), and Mauritania (450,000 hectares), have relatively limited arable land compared to leading nations.
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  • The number of artists earning over $5,000 in royalties from Spotify has risen from 36,400 in 2017 to 110,500 in 2024, a 205% increase.
  • The growth trend accelerated significantly after 2020, crossing 80,000 artists by 2021.
  • Between 2017 and 2019, the growth rate was slower, rising from 36,400 to 53,700 artists in two years.
  • The most significant jumps happened between 2019-2021, as numbers surged from 53,700 to 81,700 artists.
  • The consistent rise suggests increased monetisation opportunities for independent and mainstream artists on Spotify.
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