Children from Igbo households recorded the highest level of foundational reading skills among major ethnic groups in Nigeria, according to findings from the 2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS).
The survey, conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with UNICEF, assessed foundational reading skills among children aged 7 to 14 years, measuring their ability to demonstrate the expected reading and comprehension outcomes typically associated with Grades 2 and 3.
According to the report, 58 percent of children from Igbo households demonstrated foundational reading skills, placing them at the top of the ethnic groups assessed. They were closely followed by children from Edo households with 57 percent, while Yoruba children ranked third with 51 percent.
The findings also showed that children from Ibibio households recorded 40 percent, followed by Ijaw children at 33 percent. Tiv children scored 19 percent, while Hausa children recorded 11 percent. Kanuri children achieved 10 percent, and Fulani children recorded the lowest proportion at 6 percent. Children classified under other ethnic groups recorded an average of 22 percent.
Foundational Reading Skills by Ethnicity (2023)
- Igbo – 58%
- Edo – 57%
- Yoruba – 51%
- Ibibio – 40%
- Ijaw – 33%
- Other Ethnicities – 22%
- Tiv – 19%
- Hausa – 11%
- Kanuri – 10%
- Fulani – 6%
The report noted that the assessment does not measure intelligence or innate ability. Rather, it evaluates whether children have acquired age-appropriate reading and comprehension skills expected at the foundational level of education.
Education experts have long maintained that children’s learning outcomes are influenced by multiple factors, including access to quality schools, teacher availability, parental education, household income, early childhood learning opportunities, language of instruction, security conditions, and regional disparities in educational investment.
The survey’s findings highlight significant inequalities in learning outcomes across different communities and underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve literacy among children, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected areas.
UNICEF and the National Bureau of Statistics have consistently emphasized that strengthening foundational literacy remains essential to improving educational outcomes nationwide, as children who fail to acquire basic reading skills in their early years often face greater challenges throughout their education.
The 2023 MICS provides policymakers, education stakeholders, and development partners with updated data to guide interventions aimed at ensuring every Nigerian child acquires the foundational literacy skills needed for lifelong learning.
