In the school year 2017/2018, there were about ** million children in Nigeria who were out-of-school at the primary school level. Male students represented the majority of them, accounting for ** percent of the total.

As of 2018, the gross enrollment rate in elementary schools in Nigeria stood at 68.3 percent. The North-Western states registered the highest figures, with 70.3 percent for males and 71.1 percent for females. In particular, the states of Katsina and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had the highest rates nationwide, whereas Rivers and Zamfara recorded the lowest figures. The gross enrollment rate measures the enrollment rates of scholars of any age, whereas the net enrollment rates refers only to students in the official age of that specific educational level.

In the 2018/2019 school year, 8.6 million children in Nigeria were enrolled in pre-primary education or Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE). The ECCDE is offered by both private and public entities. In primary schools, the number of pupils added up to over 28 million as of the 2017/2018 academic year. Moreover, institutions designed for primary education amounted to approximately 116.9 thousand, most of which were concentrated in Lagos. Although primary education is free and compulsory in Nigeria, a section of the population had never attended school as of 2020.

Secondary school education

Nigerian students attend junior and senior secondary schools after obtaining primary education. However, instead of secondary school, individuals can complete secondary vocational and post-secondary vocational training. In the 2018/2019 academic year, junior secondary school enrollees reached an approximate total of 7.4 million, the majority of which were boys. In the same year, students receiving senior secondary education amounted to some 5.2 million individuals.

Tertiary education

There were 170 universities in Nigeria as of 2021, which comprised federal, state and private establishments. In 2019, more than 1.8 million undergraduate students were counted in the country. On the other hand, the number of master students reached around 121.7 thousand, the majority of which were men. Moreover, individuals pursuing a Master of Philosophy degree (PhD) in the country totaled around 17.5 thousand.

In the school year 2018/2019, 22.7 million children in Nigeria were enrolled in public elementary schools. The official primary education age in Nigeria lies between six to 11 years old. Children aged above 11 years who attend elementary school are considered over-aged. The number of pupils over the age of 11 in primary schools was 1.8 million as of 2019, while some 1.3 million infants who were enrolled in elementary school were aged below six years.

Despite the recognized need to address the prevention of sexual violence against adolescents in Nigeria, significant research gaps persist in understanding the patterns, determinants, and impacts of such violence, particularly regarding regional variations and the specific developmental needs of adolescents across different stages. This study provides Nigerian regional prevalence estimates disaggregated by gender, rural/urban, and in/out-of-school populations, while also identifying socio-demographic and cultural determinants related to increased vulnerability. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in South-West Nigeria with a sample of 961 adolescents, targeting in- and out-of-school adolescents aged 13–17 years. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were performed.The prevalence of any form of SV since age 12 was 69.4%, with higher rates among out-of-school adolescents and boys. Non-contact abuse (63.2%), passive contact abuse (41.9%), and active contact abuse (28.7%) were the most common forms reported. Peers were the dominant perpetrators (77.1%), followed by other adults (27.9%). Being male (OR 2.033), older (OR 1.214 per year), involved in a romantic relationship (OR 2.731), and experiencing SV before age 12 (OR 4.622) were significant risk factors. Higher household wealth (OR 0.902 per asset) and emotional support from both parents (OR 0.413) were protective factors.This study highlights the high burden of SV against adolescents in Nigeria, with concerning patterns of male victimization and peer perpetration. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive, evidence-based strategies addressing emotional support, social norms, power dynamics, and economic vulnerabilities to prevent and respond to this problem effectively.

Abstract Oral hygiene, which is measured by the status of plaque-free tooth surfaces, is essential for the promotion of oral health. This study aimed to determine the social predictors of good oral hygiene for children in a suburban population in Nigeria. This was a secondary analysis of data. The study participants were 8- to 16-year-old children who were residents in Ile-Ife, which is a suburban population in Nigeria. Information on the age, gender, socioeconomic status, family structure, number of siblings and birth rank of each study participant was retrieved from the an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Oral hygiene status was determined through a simplified-oral hygiene index (OHI-S) and categorized as good, fair and poor. The association between oral hygiene status and sociodemographic variables was determined. The predictors of good oral hygiene were determined using a binomial regression analysis. Data on 2,107 individuals were retrieved, of which 44.8% had good oral hygiene and 17.1% had poor oral hygiene. The odds of having good oral hygiene were reduced for children who were 13 to 16 years old (p = 0.02) or male (P=0.002) and children with low socioeconomic status (p ≤ 0.001). The odds of having good oral hygiene increased for children who were last-born compared with those who were first-born (p = 0.02). Age, gender, socioeconomic status and birth-rank were significant social predictive factors of oral hygiene status among the study population. Based on these findings, targeted interventions can be conducted to improve the oral hygiene status of children and adolescents with these social profiles.

Nigeria's population structure reveals a youthful demographic, with those aged **** years comprising the largest age group compared to the total of those between the ages of 30 and 84 years. The majority of the young population are men. This demographic trend has significant implications for Nigeria's future, particularly in terms of economic development and social services. It has the potential to offer a large future workforce that could drive economic growth if it is adequately educated and employed. However, without sufficient investment in health, education, and job creation, this youth bulge could strain public resources and fuel unemployment and social unrest. Poverty challenges amid population growth Despite Nigeria's large youth population, the country faces substantial poverty challenges. This is largely due to its youth unemployment rate, which goes contrary to the expectation that the country’s large labor force would contribute to employment and the economic development of the nation. In 2022, an estimated **** million Nigerians lived in extreme poverty, defined as living on less than **** U.S. dollars a day. This number is expected to rise in the coming years, indicating a growing disparity between population growth and economic opportunities. The situation is particularly dire in rural areas, where **** million people live in extreme poverty compared to *** million in urban centers. Linguistic and ethnic diversity Nigeria's population is characterized by significant linguistic and ethnic diversity. Hausa is the most commonly spoken language at home, used by ** percent of the population, followed by Yoruba at ** percent and Igbo at ** percent. This linguistic variety reflects Nigeria's complex ethnic composition, with major groups including Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulani. English, the country's official language, serves as the primary language of instruction in schools, promoting literacy across diverse communities.

In 2020, some ** percent of children in Nigeria completed the last grade of elementary school, with **** percent of males and **** percent of females. In the following educational levels, the disparity between male students and female students became larger, reaching a gap of **** and **** percentage points in the completion rates of middle school and high school, respectively.

As of 2018, the gross enrollment rate in middle schools in Nigeria stood at 54.4 percent. The South-Eastern states registered the highest figures, with 52.5 percent for males and 59.8 percent for females. In particular, the states of Imo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had the highest rates nationwide. Moreover, data show that there were relevant differences between the Northern states and the Southern states. The gross enrollment rate measures the enrollment rates of scholars of any age, whereas the net enrollment rates refers only to students in the official age of that specific educational level.

In 2019, there were more than *** million children enrolled in nomadic elementary schools in Nigeria. The majority of them were female students, which accounted for ** percent of the total (almost *** thousand). Nomadic education is a sub-component of the Nigerian formal educational system which aims to offer equal opportunities for all social groups, independently from ethnicity, geographical origin, gender, or social class.

As of 2018, the drop-out rate in middle schools in Nigeria was slightly higher among male students. In the second class of lower secondary school, some ** percent of males dropped-out, while the share of female students reached ** percent.

The official junior secondary education age in Nigeria goes from 12 to 14 years old.

In the school year 2018/2019, 5.4 million children in Nigeria were enrolled in private elementary schools. The official primary education age in Nigeria goes from six to 11 years old. Children aged above 11 years who attend elementary school are considered over-aged.

In 2018, about ** percent of children aged 13 to 18 years in Nigerian urban areas were attending secondary school. On the other hand, the share was by over ** percent lower in rural Nigeria. In addition, in both rural and urban areas the net school attendance ratio was lower among females.

In the school year 2017/2018, around ** million children were enrolled in primary education in Nigeria. There were considerably more pupils enrolled in public schools than in private. In total, public schools counted **** million children, while private had some *** million.

In the school year 2018/2019, there were around 7.4 million junior secondary school students in Nigeria, which were enrolled in roughly 33 thousand junior secondary schools. The number of male students was slightly higher than that of females. Officially, the junior secondary education age in Nigeria includes students aged 12 to 14 years, while the official entrance age to upper-secondary education is 15 years, with study duration being three years.

The completion rate for upper secondary school in Nigeria was higher among male students. In 2020, ** percent of males finished school, whereas this figure reached ** percent among female students. Between 2018 and 2020, the completion rate increased among both male and female upper secondary students.

Education in Nigeria is compulsory between the ages of *** and 15 years. The official entrance age to upper secondary education in Nigeria is 15 years and it has a duration of three years. Higher education (tertiary or post-secondary education) begins at the age of **.