A literal name-by-name list of primary schools in Nigeria is too large for one readable article. The federal NEMIS workbook used here contains 92,525 school rows. This guide therefore publishes the complete state and ownership totals from that file, explains which states are missing, and links the downloadable register for anyone who needs an individual school name.
That limitation is important. The workbook covers 31 states plus the FCT, not all 36 states and the FCT. Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Osun do not appear in the downloaded file. The article does not assign them zeros or pretend that no schools exist there; it identifies a coverage gap in the publication.
Primary Schools in Nigeria by State and Ownership
| State/FCT | Public | Private | IQS | Workbook Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abia | 884 | 982 | 0 | 1,866 |
| Adamawa | 1,985 | 868 | 0 | 2,853 |
| Akwa Ibom | 1,167 | 1,568 | 0 | 2,735 |
| Anambra | 1,061 | 1,926 | 0 | 2,987 |
| Bayelsa | 550 | 790 | 0 | 1,340 |
| Benue | 2,860 | 1,845 | 0 | 4,705 |
| Cross River | 1,072 | 943 | 0 | 2,015 |
| Delta | 1,127 | 26 | 0 | 1,153 |
| Edo | 1,056 | 1,013 | 0 | 2,069 |
| Ekiti | 909 | 330 | 0 | 1,239 |
| Enugu | 1,208 | 2,755 | 0 | 3,963 |
| FCT | 1,190 | 293 | 0 | 1,483 |
| Gombe | 1,546 | 555 | 0 | 2,101 |
| Imo | 1,275 | 1,533 | 0 | 2,808 |
| Jigawa | 2,488 | 283 | 908 | 3,679 |
| Kano | 6,577 | 966 | 0 | 7,543 |
| Katsina | 2,810 | 525 | 0 | 3,335 |
| Kebbi | 1,835 | 229 | 36 | 2,100 |
| Kogi | 2,032 | 779 | 0 | 2,811 |
| Kwara | 1,580 | 1,111 | 0 | 2,691 |
| Lagos | 1,015 | 0 | 0 | 1,015 |
| Nasarawa | 1,401 | 1,616 | 0 | 3,017 |
| Niger | 2,955 | 1,162 | 430 | 4,547 |
| Ogun | 1,434 | 3,275 | 0 | 4,709 |
| Ondo | 1,287 | 1,821 | 0 | 3,108 |
| Oyo | 2,537 | 3,938 | 0 | 6,475 |
| Plateau | 2,204 | 286 | 0 | 2,490 |
| Rivers | 963 | 2,347 | 0 | 3,310 |
| Sokoto | 2,059 | 211 | 0 | 2,270 |
| Taraba | 2,284 | 832 | 0 | 3,116 |
| Yobe | 1,098 | 96 | 0 | 1,194 |
| Zamfara | 1,594 | 204 | 0 | 1,798 |
| Workbook Summary | Count |
|---|---|
| Public school records | 56,043 |
| Private school records | 35,108 |
| IQS records | 1,374 |
| All rows | 92,525 |
| Rural locations | 62,662 |
| Urban locations | 29,745 |
| Indeterminate location labels | 118 |
Five states are absent from the workbook: Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Osun are missing from this particular download. Their absence is a data-coverage issue, not evidence that those states have no primary schools.
Why Official Totals for Primary Schools in Nigeria Differ
The NEMIS visual dashboard reports 130,920 primary schools for its 2021 national presentation, while the current downloadable workbook contains 92,525 rows. Those figures come from different publication layers and coverage snapshots. A dashboard total can include records that are absent from a particular downloadable file, and the workbook can carry its own omissions or update date.
For that reason, use a number together with its source and date. The workbook is valuable because it provides named rows, LGA, sector, location and enrolment fields. The visual dashboard is valuable for a national or zonal summary. Neither should be blended into a new total without a shared reporting period and a documented method.
NEMIS Zonal Totals for Primary Schools in Nigeria
| Zone | Public | Private | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Central | 11,928 | 9,610 | 21,538 |
| North East | 12,788 | 4,777 | 17,565 |
| North West | 22,480 | 7,544 | 30,024 |
| South East | 5,556 | 7,480 | 13,036 |
| South South | 5,873 | 8,663 | 14,536 |
| South West | 8,834 | 25,387 | 34,221 |
| Nigeria | 69,459 | 61,461 | 130,920 |
The zonal table is the 2021 visual summary, not a recount of the 92,525 workbook rows. Keeping both tables labelled prevents an apparent mismatch from becoming a misleading claim. Researchers should cite the exact file or visual they used.
How to Find a Named Primary School in the Federal Workbook
1. Open the NEMIS downloads page and download PRIMARY.xlsx.
2. Open the PRIMARY worksheet in Excel, LibreOffice or another spreadsheet program.
3. Filter the STATE column, then the LGA column.
4. Search the SCHOOL NAME column for the exact or partial name.
5. Check SECTOR and LOCATION rather than relying on the name alone.
6. Compare the row with state or local education-authority records before making an admission decision.
Duplicate or similar school names are common. A name match should be paired with the LGA, community, ownership and address supplied by the school. The workbook does not replace a physical visit, and a missing row does not automatically prove that a school is unapproved.
Parents narrowing a Lagos search can also review our secondary schools in Lekki directory. It demonstrates why local filters and possible duplicate rows should be examined openly rather than converted into a vague national list.
Public, Private and IQS School Categories
Public schools are government-owned in the workbook, while private records are independently owned. IQS refers to integrated Qur’anic schools in the data. Ownership can influence funding, fee collection and administration, but families should still compare teaching quality, supervision, pupil support and the daily environment at the individual school.
The Lagos rows in this particular workbook are all labelled public, which clearly does not describe the full real-world school market. That is another reason to treat the file as a published dataset with coverage limits rather than a perfect, live census.
How to Choose Among Primary Schools in Nigeria
Observe Teaching and Pupil Work
Ask to see age-appropriate exercise books, reading material and the timetable. Look for clear feedback and whether pupils can explain what they are learning. Wall displays and smart uniforms can support a positive environment, but they do not substitute for systematic literacy, numeracy and teacher attention.
Check Class Size and Staffing
Ask for the present class size, not only the school’s target. Find out whether each class has a qualified teacher, how assistants are used and how staff absence is covered. Stability matters because young pupils benefit from predictable routines and adults who know their development.
Review Safeguarding and Pickup
A primary school should have a clear rule for authorised pickup, visitors, transport, illness and emergencies. Parents should know who receives a concern and how quickly they will be contacted. Tour toilets, play areas and the sick bay as well as classrooms.
Calculate the Sustainable Annual Cost
Private-school tuition can be only one part of the bill. Add books, uniforms, meals, transport, technology, trips and levies. For a public school, ask which approved charges still apply and what materials the family must provide. A sustainable school is better than an impressive option that creates repeated fee disruption.
Primary-School Admission Documents
- Birth certificate or declaration of age.
- Recent passport photographs.
- Previous report or transfer record for a pupil joining above the entry class.
- Immunisation or health information where requested.
- Parent or guardian contact and authorised pickup details.
- Evidence of application, assessment and fee payment.
The school should explain why it collects personal data and who can access it. Parents should keep copies of documents and receipts, particularly when an application is submitted through an online form or an external admission consultant.
International and Technical Pathways After Primary School
A family considering a foreign curriculum can use our international schools in Nigeria guide for a broader comparison. Ask how the primary curriculum connects to the secondary examination pathway, especially if the family may move between systems.
For pupils whose interests later become practical and technical, the technical colleges in Nigeria list explains a different post-basic route. That decision comes much later, but strong primary literacy, numeracy and curiosity support every pathway.
Common Mistakes When Using a Primary-School Directory
- Assuming every official dataset was updated on the same date.
- Treating a missing state or school row as proof that no institution exists.
- Choosing by name without checking LGA, ownership and campus address.
- Relying on national totals to make a local school decision.
- Paying an application fee before reading the written fee and refund policy.
- Ignoring the morning journey, pupil pickup and transport supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions About Primary Schools in Nigeria
How Many Primary Schools Are in the NEMIS Visual Summary?
The 2021 visual summary reports 130,920, made up of 69,459 public and 61,461 private schools.
How Many Rows Are in the Downloadable Primary Workbook?
The workbook used for this article contains 92,525 school rows. Its coverage is incomplete at state level, so it should not be presented as a complete national census.
Which States Are Missing From the Workbook?
Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Osun do not appear in the file checked.
Can Parents Rely on a NEMIS Row Alone?
Use it as a discovery and cross-checking source. Confirm the exact school with the state or local authority and visit before admission.
Does Private Ownership Mean Better Quality?
No. Quality depends on leadership, teachers, curriculum delivery, safety and pupil support. Ownership is one comparison field, not a verdict.
For a final check, compare primary schools in Nigeria with the official page on the day you act; a dated requirement is more useful than an undated summary.
Keep a saved copy of the source used for primary schools in Nigeria, especially when a payment, deadline or course choice depends on it.
Final Advice on Primary Schools in Nigeria
Use official data carefully: label the source, notice what is missing and verify the individual school. For a parent, the national picture is useful context, but the decisive evidence comes from the classroom, teachers, safety procedures, journey and sustainable cost.
For researchers, preserve the downloaded workbook and record the access date. For families, turn a broad list into a small local shortlist and visit each option. Both approaches are more reliable than copying an unlabelled total from another article.
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