Top 10 Most Educated States in Nigeria (2024)

Education in Nigeria has no unified circulation in all parts of the country. This has made the various states not to have the same educational development or literacy level as others. One of such is having academic institutions of learning like polytechnics, colleges and universities. An example is Oyo state which has up to five universities in its state locality compared to the much rare one university in Yobe state.

While educational development in a region is hastened by the availability of schools of learning from the primary, secondary schools to the higher institutions: colleges; polytechnics and universities, the rate at which illiteracy reduces is helped by this factor. Oyo state was the first to have a university in Nigeria in Ibadan its capital, and has today grown to become the best educational city in West Africa. The city boast of different universities, colleges of education and polytechnics of higher learning.

In this post we rank the top 10 best educated states in Nigeria currently, their academic institutions and other facts as to why these states are seen as the highest when it comes to literacy level, learning standards and educational strides plus attainment.

TOP 10 BEST EDUCATED STATES IN NIGERIA (2024)

Here are the top 10 most educated states in Nigeria ranked with high literacy level, quality academic institutions and high learning.

1. IMO STATE

Imo state is the best educated state in Nigeria with its literacy level set at 96.43% when looking at educational advancement. Imo state is one of the most educated states in south east, Nigeria with the highest number of graduates. It is home of prestigious schools like Technological skills Acquisition Institute, Orlu; Federal University Of Technology, Owerri; Federal Polytechnic, Nekede and Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri.

Statistically, Imo state also has the highest percentage of bachelor’s degree holders, the highest percentage of graduate degree holders and its universities has an high average quality required from a university.

Owerri the state capital has a number of quality primary/secondary school adding with it’s first-rated public and private universities.

The state government has plans to make it reach greater heights in the educational sector by proposing and commencing establishment of six new institutions. They are: University of Engineering, Onuimo, University of Agriculture, Aboh Mbaise, Ehime Polytechnic and the Ihitte Uboma College of Education. This plan which was set up by the former state governor, Rochas Okorocha in 2018 is to be completed by succeeding governments.

2. LAGOS STATE

Lagos is the second most educated state in the country with its literacy levels set at 96.30% and is also Nigeria’s commercial/economic hub. It is one of the most developed states in the country. Most popular companies and government institutions are located in the state. For this reason, many private and government-owned institutions are taking advantage of this to produce credible graduates to service in these companies.

The state hosts highly known secondary schools which are few to mention includes King college, Queen’s College, Chrisland schools, et al. These secondary school students when finishing are open to quality education at the prestigious University Of Lagos; Lagos State University; Federal College Of Technology, Yaba and the State’s Polytechnic.

3. ANAMBRA STATE

Anambra is another best educated Nigerian state located in the south eastern region with its literacy level set at 95.76%. They are known for producing successful businessmen and entrepreneurs from their educational institutions. The Nnamdi Azikiwe University is the state’s most prominent and qualitative school of learning. The university is named after Nnamdi Azikiwe who was the first most educated indigenous leader of Nigeria.

The state has some of the best secondary schools in the country in the like of Christ the King College, Onitsha, Bethlehem Schools, Federal Government Girls College and Onitsha High School. These schools were added with the tertiary institutions to give its residents more higher education.

Universities and Polytechnics in Anambra state include: Nnamdi Azikiwe University, the state’s Chukwuemeka Ojukwu University, Madonna University, Legacy University, Paul University, Ekwenugo Okeke Polytechnic, Anambra State Polytechnic and Federal Polytechnic, Oko. These schools of learning offers quality education and has made the state to be ranked high educationally.

4. OYO STATE

Although, Ekiti was ranked as the state with the highest number of professors in Nigeria, Oyo state still remains top when it comes to education in Nigeria with its literacy level set at 94.24%. Oyo state hosts the first and best university in the country, the University of Ibadan. This school is very unique with immense quality plus fully accredited courses in all disciplines.

Many top private and government schools are in the locality of the state especially in the state’s capital, Ibadan. This has made the city to be ranked among the educational cities in the world. The prestigious LAUTECH with many other universities, polytechnics, colleges, primary/secondary schools and a seminary are within the state.

5. RIVERS STATE

Rivers State is one of the major producers of oil and gas, Nigeria’s main income generator. With this you can be sure that much of the state’s budget will be going to education to maintain these resources.

The University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State University of Technology, Port-Harcourt Polytechnic and the Rivers State College of Health Science are some of the prolific higher institutions in the state. Rivers is seen as one of the top most educated Nigerian state this 2024 with a literary level set at 92.11%.

6. OGUN STATE

Ogun is one of the most educated state that has the highest academic personalities with a literacy level set at 90.57%. Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abiodun and many other literates are from this state.

The top-notch Covenant university is in the state not excluding Federal University of Agriculture,
Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye. Others are Tai Solarin College of Education, Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Federal Government Girls College, Sagamu, Bell’s University, Babcock University, Mountain Top University and Caleb University.

With these fully facilitated schools, you could conclude that the state is indeed educationally advanced.

7. ENUGU STATE

Nigeria’s own University of Nigeria, Nsukka is located in the state. The region is an Igbo tribe settlement in the south-eastern part of the country.

When it comes to literacy, Enugu state came to be educationally inclined after a series of schools, the state’s university, ESUT and many other polytechnics with colleges. Enugu state university, ESUT is well equipped with class facilities to facilitate quality learning.

Other notable educational schools in the state are already mentioned Enugu State University of Technology and University of Nigeria, Nsukka following with Caritas University, Institute of Management Technology, Enugu and other top class schools.

The coal city state has a high literacy level of 90% due to its highly educational resources.

8. DELTA STATE

Delta state sees education as a priority to solve the challenges of its rich oil and gas. No wonder its overall literacy level is pegged at 89.50%. There is the Film and Broadcast Academy, Ozoro, College of Education, Agbor, College of Education, Arondizuogu and Ahiara Polytechnic in the state to support the universities in the state.

The state plays host to many quality universities, polytechnics, secondary schools and colleges of learning. They include: Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun; Delta State University; Delta State Polytechnics and numbers of good secondary/ primary schools adding with the one we mentioned earlier.

9. AKWA-IBOM STATE

This is yet another most educated state in Nigeria and also a rich oil and gas producing state with high advancement in educational disciplines. The state which is located in the coastal region has most of her earnings from petroleum. And they have through it invest more in ensuring quality education that meets the world’s standards.

With a literacy level at 88.90%, the well known higher schools in the State which are few to list: University of Uyo; Akwa-Ibom State University of Technology, Mkpat-Enin; Akwa-Ibom State Polytechnic has produced enough highly educationally inclined individuals to put the state in view.

10. OSUN STATE

Osun is an educated state that is small ìn size, but home to more than five reliable universities. With a literacy level set to 88.30%, education is a priority in this state. The schools here are both individual-owned, private and government which includes prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Bowen University, Adeleke University, the Redeemers University of Nigeria, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and the Osun State University.

LIST OF NIGERIAN STATES ACCORDING TO LITERACY LEVEL

Below is a table that shows the 10 most educated Nigerian states according to literacy level this 2024

RANK	STATES	LITERACY LEVEL
1	IMO STATE	96.4%
2	LAGOS STATE	96.3%
3	ANAMBRA STATE	95.7%
4	OYO STATE	94.2%
5	RIVERS STATE	92.11%
6	OGUN STATE	90.5%
7	ENUGU STATE	90%
8	DELTA STATE	89.5%
9	AKWA IBOM STATE	88.9%
10	OSUN STATE	88.3%
11	EDO STATE	79.9%

CONCLUSION

A critical look at the educational system in the country, we could see that Northern part of Nigeria is lagging behind, and it has become a issue for the governments till date. Economically endowed and popular states like Kano and Kaduna are still not able to listed as most educated states. The reason for this backwardness of the northerners on education is because of the multi population in this areas.

Educational attainment in the country can go a long way to addressing the development of our local communities. This notion was also stressed by Cinda Klickna, President of the Illinois Education Association in a quote, “Every community can attract and retain quality workers, build an economic engine and increase productivity, but these all rely on a strong focus on education.”

With the country having an over increasing population, there is a need to get more than half educated, so as not to also increase the rate of illiteracy. Kastina is the state ranked as the most illiterate and least educated in Nigeria, while Kano and Kaduna are seen as the most educated Northern state in the country. The southern region are the most educated region in Nigeria with the highest number of graduates while imo state is the most educated state of all.