NEWS
UNICEF Report: Igbo Children Lead Nigeria in Foundational Reading Skills, as Fulani Rank Lowest
A new 2023 report by UNICEF has revealed significant disparities in foundational reading skills among Nigerian children across different ethnic groups, with children from Igbo households recording the highest performance nationwide.
The findings, which assessed children aged 7 to 14 years, showed that 58 percent of Igbo children possess foundational reading skills, placing them at the top of the national ranking. They were closely followed by children from Edo households at 57 percent, while Yoruba children ranked third with 51 percent.
According to the report, children from Ibibio households recorded 40 percent, followed by Ijaw children with 33 percent. Other ethnic groups collectively recorded 22 percent, while Tiv children stood at 19 percent.
The survey also highlighted lower literacy outcomes among some northern ethnic groups. Hausa children recorded 11 percent, Kanuri children 10 percent, while Fulani children ranked lowest with just 6 percent demonstrating foundational reading skills.
UNICEF 2023 Ranking of Foundational Reading Skills by Ethnicity
1. Igbo – 58%
2. Edo – 57%
3. Yoruba – 51%
4. Ibibio – 40%
5. Ijaw – 33%
6. Tiv – 19%
7. Hausa – 11%
8. Kanuri – 10%
9. Fulani – 6%
10. Other Ethnicities – 22%
The data is based on UNICEF’s 2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which measures foundational reading skills among children aged 7 to 14 years.
Within the MICS framework, foundational reading skills refer to the expected learning outcomes in basic reading and comprehension typically acquired by pupils in Grades 2 and 3. The assessment evaluates children’s ability to read and understand age-appropriate texts, providing an important indicator of early learning outcomes across Nigeria.
The report underscores the wide gaps in literacy attainment among different ethnic groups and highlights the need for targeted interventions to improve early childhood education and foundational learning across all regions of the country.