Lifestyle
10 Most Educated Tribes In Nigeria – See Who Tops The List
There are over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria and they have their unique culture, values, and relationship with education.
Some tribes value education, and some others don’t, and this inequality exists particularly between the southern and northern parts of the country. Despite decades of national investment in education, Nigeria’s literacy and education levels are still quite low and don’t even rank among countries with the highest IQs globally.
In 2022, Nigeria’s national literacy rate reached 69%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a modest improvement since 2007. But this progress hides vast regional and tribal disparities. While states like Imo and Lagos boast literacy levels as high as 96%, states like Yobe and Zamfara still struggle far below the national average.
Southern tribes consistently lead, while many northern communities continue to face educational barriers. Here’s the top 10 most educated tribes, ranked by youth literacy (ages 15–24) and tertiary education rates:
Top 10 Most Educated Tribes in Nigeria
1. Igbo
The youth literacy is 74.2% for males and 73.1% for females, and these figures rank top for both genders among all tribes. The Igbo tribe in Nigeria is renowned for its business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. However, they are also highly educated and have made significant contributions to the country’s educational landscape. They have a strong emphasis on education and believe in the power of knowledge to empower their community.
2. Edo
The youth literacy for males in Edo is 74.2% and 59.56% for females. The Edo tribe, known for their rich civilisation and high migration rates, is also recognised for their commitment to education. They place a strong emphasis on the value of knowledge and learning, making them one of the most educated tribes in Nigeria. Education among the Edo tribe goes beyond academic achievements. It is also intertwined with the preservation and promotion of their rich cultural heritage.
3. Yoruba
The youth literacy for Yoruba males is 70.3% and 56.8% for the females. The Yoruba tribe in Nigeria is widely recognised as one of the most educated tribes in the country. They have a long history of embracing Western education, and as a result, have achieved remarkable educational milestones. The Yoruba tribe has a significant number of professors within their community, and these individuals serve as inspiring role models to the younger generations.
4. Tiv
The youth literacy for Tiv males is 68.4% and 37.4% for females. There is a huge disparity in education between the genders. Tiv isa major ethnic group in Nigeria, primarily residing in Benue State and neighbouring regions. Historically, they relied on oral tradition and practical activities for knowledge transmission, with women often having less access to formal Western education. While Western education has opened up opportunities for Tiv women, these challenges remain.
5. Ijaw
The youth literacy for Ijaw males is 63.3% and 47.7% for females. The Ijaw tribe, prominent in the Niger Delta region, is not only politically influential but also highly educated. With a strong emphasis on education, the Ijaw people have produced a significant number of educated individuals who play significant roles in society.
6. Hausa
The youth literacy for Hausa men is 63.3% and 47.7% for women. Northern states have historically lagged due to limited colonial-era schooling in the North. Recent improvements only began through adult and rural literacy initiatives. This tribe is known for its political dominance, and despite their cultural and population challenges, those who pursue education within the Hausa tribe have proven their intellectual capabilities.
7. Ibibio
The youth literacy for males in Ibibio is 57.7% and for females, 62.2%. The Ibibio people are found in the South-South region of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State, and Eastern Abia State (Arochukwu and Ukwa East LGAs). This tribe benefited from community and government literacy programs, which have shown strong improvements in literacy across both genders over the years.
8. Other Ethnicities
Other ethnicities like Urhobo / Itsekiri / Isoko / Calabar, and many others, fall under this category. For example, Urhobo (Delta), Itsekiri (Western Niger Delta), Isoko, and Calabar/Efik communities have historical ties to early education via missionaries/trade.
9. Kanuri
The youth literacy for Kanuri males is 42% and 22.7% for females. The Kanuri people, primarily located in northeastern Nigeria, have a complex relationship with education, influenced by their cultural values and the introduction of modern schooling. While education is valued, some Kanuri communities have experienced a disconnect between traditional Kanuri culture and the formal school curriculum, leading to resistance to modern education in certain areas.
10. Fulani
The youth literacy for Fulani men is 26.2% and 13.8% for females. This tribe is traditionally nomadic, which makes formal education access more difficult.
Education Trends (2000 – 2024)
2000–2004: The Igbo and Yoruba led in literacy, while the Hausa and Fulani lagged. Nigeria’s literacy rate in 2003 was 54.77%.
2005–2009: The literacy rate rose to 70.20%. The rate of increase for the Edo and Tiv peoples was impressive, while that of the Fulani and Kanuri still lagged far behind.
2010–2014: Nigeria’s literacy rate in 2010 was 68.11%. Igbo and Yoruba continued to lead, while Edo and Tiv showed improvements with targeted programmes, but Fulani and Kanuri remained disadvantaged.
2015–2019: By 2018, the Fulanis saw gains of about 35%, aided by government programmes directed at nomadic and rural populations.
2020–2024: Nigeria’s literacy rate was 77.62% in 2021 but declined to 59.57% by 2024. The Igbo and Yoruba remained at the top, while the Fulani and Kanuri improved.
In conclusion, Igbo, Edo, and Yoruba top Nigeria’s educational rankings.
Pulse.ng
Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel), has defended his ministry’s practices and origins, asserting that its founding and key decisions, including the acquisition of his private aircraft, were guided by direct divine instructions.
In a video clip circulating on social media, Bishop Oyedepo dismissed any claims of a “co-founder” of the ministry, stating, “This ministry has no co-founder. The first one to hear the mission is this young lady [pointing to his wife],” referring to his wife.
He said that all the founding principles and “12 pillars” of the commission were given to him directly by God, not by men.
The cleric also addressed the often-criticised topic of his private jets, asserting that the decision to acquire them was not his own.
“It was not a discussion. It was God who told me it’s time to get the aircraft,” he said.
Oyedepo also touched on the church’s employment policies, emphasising that the ministry is not run in a loose or informal manner.
He stated that all staff, regardless of their claims of a divine calling, must go through a formal process. “You write an application, you do an interview, you get an employment letter, you respond,” he said.
In conversations about wealth and influence in Africa, Nigeria often takes center stage. While much of the spotlight falls on male billionaires dominating the oil, telecoms, and banking sectors.
A remarkable group of women are shattering glass ceilings and making their mark on the business world. They are the wealthiest women in Nigeria, not only accumulating great fortunes but also inspiring future generations with their drive and ingenuity.
Here are the stories of the top 5 richest women in Nigeria, their backgrounds, business ventures, and the influence they wield.
1. Folorunsho Alakija (Estimated net worth: $1 billion)
Folorunsho Alakija is a true self-made billionaire, defying stereotypes and paving the way for other women in Nigeria. In 2020, Forbes termed Folorunso Alakija the richest woman in Nigeria and “the most powerful woman in Africa.”
She started her career in fashion design, establishing a successful clothing line. However, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to explore new ventures. In the 1990s, Alakija’s company, Famfa Oil, was awarded an oil exploration license, propelling her to the forefront of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. She is also a philanthropist, supporting education initiatives and empowering women through her foundation.
2. Hajia Bola Shagaya (Estimated net worth: $950 million)
Hajia Bola Shagaya’s journey began in the civil service, working as an auditor for the Central Bank of Nigeria. However, her entrepreneurial spirit soon took hold. She started by importing photographic equipment, laying the foundation for her successful business group, Bolmus Group International.
This diversified conglomerate has interests in oil and gas, real estate, banking, and photography. Shagaya is a prominent figure in Nigerian business circles and a role model for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
3. Daisy Danjuma (Estimated net worth: $900 Million)
Daisy Danjuma is the wife of retired Nigerian General Theophilus Danjuma, a prominent businessman. While details of her early career are limited, she has become a powerful figure in her own right.
Danjuma is the co-founder of Afenmai Austeniti Limited, an oil and gas exploration company. She is also known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.
4. Fifi Ekanem Ejindu (Estimated net worth: $850 million)
Fifi Ekanem Ejindu is an architect, entrepreneur, and benefactor with familial ties to King James Ekpo Bassey of Cobham Town, Calabar. She ranks among the foremost female architects in Nigeria and established the Starcrest Group of Companies, encompassing real estate development, architectural design, and investment sectors.
Her fortune is estimated at approximately $850 million. In 2013, she was honoured with the African Achievers Award for Lifetime Achievement in Arts and Fashion.
Renowned for her innovative and neo-traditional approach to architecture, Fifi continues to make significant impacts in her field.
5. Stella Okoli (Estimated net worth: $800 million)
Stella Okoli, an industrious pharmacist, business leader, and philanthropist, is the driving force behind Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries LTD. From a humble pharmacy, she has grown her business into a pharmaceutical giant valued at $800 million.
She also holds leadership roles as the Vice President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
In memory of her son Chike Okoli, who passed away in 2005, she founded the Chike Okoli Foundation in 2006. This charity aims to fight poverty and diseases, with a special focus on preventing cardiovascular diseases. Stella Okoli also manages the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Google’s algorithm appears to misrepresent this fact by linking Seyi Tinubu to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, likely due to her high visibility as the First Lady and long-standing senator
Claim: Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, not Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as incorrectly displayed in some Google search results.
Findings
Seyi Tinubu, the son of Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is often inaccurately portrayed in online search results as the biological son of Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
However, reliable sources and historical records clarify that Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, a former air hostess.
Bunmi Oshonaike was married to Bola Tinubu before his current wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The marriage produced Seyi Tinubu before the union dissolved. Subsequently, Bola Tinubu married Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who became Seyi’s stepmother. While Oluremi Tinubu plays a prominent role in Seyi’s life, particularly given her public profile, she is not his biological mother.
Google’s algorithm appears to misrepresent this fact by linking Seyi Tinubu to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, likely due to her high visibility as the First Lady and long-standing senator. This highlights the need for better contextual accuracy in automated search results to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Final Verdict.
The claim is true: Seyi Tinubu’s biological mother is Bunmi Oshonaike, not Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Who is Bunmi Oshonaike?
Bunmi Oshonaike, a former air hostess with the defunct Nigeria Airways, is the biological mother of Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This fact clarifies the common misconception that Senator Oluremi Tinubu is Seyi Tinubu’s mother. Nigerians are widely aware of this distinction.
Seyi Tinubu has celebrated his biological mother’s birthday publicly, including publishing tributes in national newspapers since 2022, further affirming her role as his mother.
Her ethnicity is Yoruba, originating from the southwestern region of Nigeria. Although unconfirmed sources suggest that she hails from Lagos State, there are no detailed accounts of her biography available online.
Bunmi is 65 years old as of 2024. This calculation is based on her 60th birthday, which was celebrated and published by THISDAY Newspaper on November 11, 2019. This publication confirms her birth year, making her age 65 in 2024
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