Of 1400 pupils from two public primary schools in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, who were screened for dermatophyte infection, 188 (13.4%) were infected. The causative agents isolated included Microsporum audouinii in 88 (46.8%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 48 (25.5%), T. rubrum in 40 (21.3%), T. tonsurans in four (2.1%) and Epidermophyton floccosum in eight (4.3%). There were significant differences in the rate of infection between male and female schoolchildren as well as between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds.