Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with over 230 million inhabitants. The area is about 2.5 times the size of Germany. Nigeria is also a multicultural society, home to over 250 ethnic groups and with 500 languages spoken. The religious distribution is significant: 50% of the population are Muslims and 45% Christians. While the north of the country is predominantly Muslim, Christianity dominates in the south.

Healthcare

The healthcare system of Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is only partially functional.
— Doctors Without Borders

There is a shortage of medical facilities, especially in rural regions. Around 60% of the population live in poverty, which greatly restricts access to health services.

A major problem is eye diseases. According to the Nigerian National Eye Health Strategic Development Plan (2024–2028), an estimated 24 million people in Nigeria suffer from vision loss, 1.3 million people are blind and a further roughly 50 million people suffer from eye conditions that do not cause vision impairment but require basic ophthalmic care (data from a 2020 survey).

Education system

One in five out-of-school children in the world is from Nigeria.
— UNICEF

Nigeria’s education system is among the weakest in Africa. Millions of children have no access to education because they are economically disadvantaged. Two-thirds of the population in Nigeria are young people. The state invests little in the education system, while poverty is the main barrier to school attendance and education. Despite compulsory schooling, millions of children do not attend school. The effects of the inadequate education system are further exacerbated by the emigration of skilled workers.

Ethno-religious violence

More than 82 percent of the Christians worldwide who were killed for their faith were in Nigeria.
— Open Doors; WWL 2024

Especially the north of Nigeria is affected by ethno-religious violence, notably by groups like Boko Haram. In 2024 3,100 Christians were killed and 2,830 were abducted.

Church in Nigeria

There are alone in Nigeria roughly as many regularly practicing Catholics as in all of Western Europe.
— CRUX; J. L. Allen Jr.; 25 Jan 2023

About 30 million Catholics live in Nigeria, of whom 94% actively practice.

Civil society

Nigeria ranks among the top 25% of countries worldwide when it comes to civic engagement, but is in the bottom 25% regarding rights and the rule of law.
— idea.int/democracytracker

Despite the considerable challenges faced by people in Nigeria, civic engagement is highly pronounced.

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