Nigeria has recorded one of its most significant national improvements in early-grade reading, according to the 2025 National Phonics Screening Report released by Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), an international education nonprofit focused on strengthening literacy systems through teacher training, evidence-based instruction and large-scale assessments.
The report, announced in Abuja on Monday, covered 72,127 pupils from Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) to Primary 3 across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Of this number, 64,576 pupils had been taught using Jolly Phonics, Nigeria’s flagship early literacy programme implemented nationwide with support from UBEC and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).
Describing the assessment as Nigeria’s largest-ever early reading test, ULS said findings confirm that systematic phonics instruction is yielding measurable, nationwide progress in literacy.
According to the data, the proportion of Primary 1 pupils achieving the 20-word reading benchmark climbed from 20.9% in 2021 to 35% in 2025, while the share of Primary 2 pupils reading 30 words rose from 17.7% in 2019 to 26.6%.
ULS Country Director, Patrick Uzu, attributed the improvement to the dedication of teachers across the country.
“These results clearly show that Jolly Phonics is transforming classrooms and giving children the foundational reading skills they need to succeed. We celebrate every teacher who made these gains possible,” he said.
ULS further noted sharp increases in mean scores for letter-sound knowledge and word reading since 2019, with Primary 3 pupils nearly doubling their average reading performance. Pupils taught with Jolly Phonics also outperformed others in both English and Hausa, underscoring the programme’s impact on bilingual literacy development.
Chief Executive Officer of ULS, Gary Foxcroft, described the nationwide evaluation as a major milestone.
“This was the largest early-grade pupil assessment ever undertaken in Nigeria. The professionalism of monitors across 33 states and the dedication of teachers have driven real change. Nigeria should be proud,” he said.
CEO of Jolly Learning, Gilbert Jolly, praised Nigeria for aligning with global best practices in literacy instruction.
“Nigeria is following the path of high-performing nations like Singapore and Ireland. These results show what is possible when Jolly Phonics is delivered at scale,” he noted.
The 2025 report reinforces growing evidence that systematic phonics instruction, when implemented consistently and nationwide, can drive meaningful improvements in early literacy outcomes.
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