Credit: Muhammad-taha Ibrahim
In a world where technology has taken over every aspect of our lives, it's fascinating to know that some people still prefer to read newspapers. According to the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2021, 12.3% of people aged 15-49 in Nigeria read a newspaper at least once a week. In this blog post, we will explore the different percentages of people who read newspapers in Nigeria, based on gender and level of education.
Firstly, let's examine the percentage of people who read newspapers based on gender. The MICS report shows that 17.2% of men in Nigeria read newspapers at least once a week, while only 7.4% of women do the same. This result is not surprising because, in many African societies, men are seen as the breadwinners and are expected to keep up with current affairs. Women, on the other hand, are usually responsible for household chores and childcare.
Secondly, the MICS report also provides information on the percentage of people who read newspapers based on their level of education. The results show that people with higher levels of education are more likely to read newspapers than those with lower levels of education. For instance, only 0.9% of people with no formal education read newspapers, compared to 37.25% of those with higher/tertiary education. This result suggests that education plays a vital role in determining one's interest in reading newspapers.
Also, let's look at the percentage of people who read newspapers in urban and rural areas. The MICS report shows that people in urban areas are more likely to read newspapers than those in rural areas. Specifically, 20.5% of people in urban areas read newspapers at least once a week, while only 5.55% of those in rural areas do the same. This result may be because people in urban areas have more access to newspapers than those in rural areas.
In addition to the percentage of people who read newspapers based on gender, level of education, and urban-rural divide, the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2021 also provides information on the percentage of people who read newspapers by geopolitical zones.
The results show that people in the South West geopolitical zone are more likely to read newspapers than those in other geopolitical zones. Specifically, 22.1% of people in the South West read newspapers at least once a week, followed by the South East with 19.3%, and the South South with 15.3%. On the other hand, people in the North East geopolitical zone are the least likely to read newspapers, with only 3.5% of the population reading newspapers at least once a week, followed by the North West with 5.6%.
The North Central geopolitical zone has the fourth-highest percentage of people who read newspapers, with 10.7% of the population reading newspapers at least once a week. This result is not surprising because the North Central geopolitical zone is home to the federal capital territory, Abuja, which is the seat of the Nigerian government. As a result, people in this geopolitical zone are more likely to have access to newspapers than those in other parts of the country.
The results also show that Lagos has the highest percentage of people who read newspapers, with 40.6% of the population reading newspapers at least once a week. Lagos is followed by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with 32.1%, and Anambra with 24.6%.
The top five states with the highest percentage of people who read newspapers are all located in the southern part of Nigeria, with Imo and Akwa Ibom coming in at fourth and fifth place with 21.9% and 20.3% respectively. The other states with high percentages of people who read newspapers include Edo, Enugu, Bayelsa, Delta, and Abia.
On the other hand, the states with the lowest percentage of people who read newspapers are Yobe with 0.9%, Taraba with 2.1%, and Bauchi with 2.2%. Other states with low percentages of people who read newspapers include Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Gombe.
The results of this survey show that there are significant regional differences in the percentage of people who read newspapers in Nigeria. This information can be useful for media companies and policymakers to tailor their strategies to promote newspaper reading in different regions of the country. Furthermore, it highlights the need for targeted interventions to increase the percentage of people who read newspapers, particularly in states where the percentage is low.
In conclusion, the Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2021 provides valuable insights into the percentage of people who read newspapers in Nigeria. The results show that men are more likely to read newspapers than women, people with higher levels of education are more likely to read newspapers than those with lower levels of education, and people in urban areas are more likely to read newspapers than those in rural areas. While these results may not be surprising, they provide useful information that can help policymakers and media companies develop strategies to promote newspaper reading in Nigeria.