Summary.This study in the Northern Nigerian educational system tested the hypothesis of British and American studies that academic achievement at primary school is positively associated with extraversion. One hundred and sixty primary school boys completed the JEPI and Raven's Progressive Matrices. The relationships between the subjects' E, N, intelligence and achievement scores were examined. Contrary to the findings of British and American studies, the results of this enquiry yielded a significant negative association between extraversion and academic attainment.