Top 50 Universities in Nigeria (2017 NUC Ranking)

If you live in Nigeria, choosing the right university for your higher education may seem like an uphill task. However, there is something you can do to make it easier.

You can check the ranking of these Nigerian universities.

In this post, we have compiled a list of the top 50 universities in the country based on a number of factors which include the standard of the learning environment, availability of research facilities, the institution’s web presence as well as the quality of graduates.

Top 50 universities in Nigeria 2017

top 50 universities in nigeria

#1 University of Ibadan

Fondly referred to as the first University in Nigeria, University of Ibadan was established in 1948. Initially, it was a college under the University of London. It became a full-fledged university in 1962. The University took off with academic programmes in Arts, Science and Medicine.

#2 Covenant University

Established in 1999, Covenant University is the brainchild of the Living Faith Church Worldwide. The university has won a lot of award in the past few years. In 2015, it was named the top university in the country according to Webometrics.

#3 University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Popularly called UNN, the University of Nigeria was established in 1955 in Nsukka in Enugu. It was the first full-fledged indigenous and autonomous university in the country. The university has four campuses located in Nsukka, Enugu, Ituku-Ozalla and Aba.

#4 Obafemi Awolowo University

Formerly called University of Ife, Obafemi Awolowo University was renamed in 1987 after Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the first Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria.

Also, the school is popularly called the Great Ife and it has over 60 academic departments and was once affiliated with the Loma Linda University in the United States of America.

#5 Federal University of Technology, Minna

Established in Minna in 1983, FUT Minna is one of the top universities in Nigeria. With 9 faculties and several affiliations on and off campus, this university is certainly one of the top destinations of higher learning in the country

#6 University of Lagos

Popularly called Unilag, the University of Lagos is one of the top selections among secondary school leavers and prospective graduate students.

As a result, this is one of the most competitive schools in the country in terms of admission.

#7 Ahmadu Bello University

Established two years after Nigeria’s independence, Ahmadu Bello University was initially called the University of Northern Nigeria. At the early stage of the University, most of the lecturers were British and many of the initial appointments were professorial in nature. Although, there have been changes over the years nonetheless the university has continued to maintain its high educational standards.

#8 University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

The University of Agriculture, Abeokuta is one of the three universities of Agriculture in the country.

In time past, UNAAB has been awarded the best University in the country and many of their professors have been recipients of international laurels and honours

#9 University of Ilorin

Known for their superfast academic calendar, University of Ilorin is one of the universities of choice among secondary school leavers. The university was established in the ancient city of Ilorin in 1975 and is among the largest in the country in terms of land mass.

#10 Federal University of Technology, Akure

Popularly called FUTA, this prestigious institution was established in 1981 as a means by the government to produce graduate with theoretical and practical knowledge of technologies and so far, FUTA has lived up to this

#11 University of Benin

Popularly called UNIBEN, it was founded in 1970. The school started out as an institute of Technology before becoming a full-scale university in 1971.

The university is highly sought after in the country with a total student enrolment of over 40 000 students.

#12 University of Port Harcourt

The University of Port Harcourt is another top university in the country. The university has been known to produce prominent figures in the country such as Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the former President of Nigeria, Rita Dominic, Agbani Darego and many others.

#13 Federal University of Technology, Owerri

It is the foremost federal university of technology in the South East and South South parts of Nigeria.

The university was established in 1980 and has grown in leaps and bounds since its early days.

#14 Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Popularly called LAUTECH, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology was founded in 1990 and is one of the prominent universities in the country.

#15 Bayero University, Kano

Also known as BUK, this top university was established in 1977. It evolved from Bayero University College which was founded in 1962. The university has some notable alumni in the political circle such as Mansur Dan Ali, Farouk Lawan and Ahmed Sani Yerima.

#16 University of Uyo

Formerly called the University of Cross River, it was renamed the University of Uyo when Akwa Ibom state was formed in 1991. The university has produced some notable politicians and TV stars.

#17 Lagos State University

The Lagos State University was established in 1983 by the Lagos State Government as a multi-campus and non residential university with campuses located in Epe, Ojo, Anthony and Ikeja

LASU is committed to high educational standards and it took over 3 decades for this university to produce its first ever first class graduate.

#18 University of Calabar

The University of Calabar is a second generation federal university and was established in 1975. This university has produced popular Nollywood actresses like Uche Jumbo and Stephanie Okereke.

#19 University of Abuja

Established in 1988, the University of Abuja is located in the Federal Capital Territory. It has a mini campus as well as a permanent site along the Kaduna-Lokoja-Abuja Road.

#20 Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti

This is one of the newest universities to make this list. It was established in 2009 by the lawyer and philanthropist Afe Babalola. Afe Babalola University is a top notch university with state of the art facilities

#21 University of Jos

The University of Jos started initially as the satellite campus of the University of Ibadan in 1972. It became a full fledged university in 1975. Over the years, the University of Jos has recorded achievements with their malaria and snake venom research.

#22 Nnamdi Azikiwe University

This is another top notch university in the country located in Awka. It is an offshoot of the defunct Anambra State University of Technology.

#23 University of Maiduguri

Popularly called UNIMAID, this is one of the prominent universities in the North Eastern part of the country. It is well known for its research efforts in the field of Agriculture

#24 Olabisi Onabanjo University

Popularly called OOU, this university was formerly called Ogun State University before it was rechristened in 2001.

#25 American University of Nigeria

American University of Nigeria is a private university located in the North Eastern part of the country. It scores a first by being the only American styled university in West Africa.

#26 Landmark University

Landmark University is another top private institution with affiliations with the Living Faith Church Worldwide. The university is located in Kwara State.

#27 Federal University, Oye, Ekiti

Founded in 2011, the Federal University Oye Ekiti was established to meet international educational standards. The school had its first set of graduating students in 2016.

#28 Ebonyi State University

Founded in 1999, Ebonyi State University is located in Abakaliki. The university was established to encourage the advancement of learning and research in Ebonyi State. However, the school has grown over the years to become an educational hub in the country.

#29 Usman Danfodiyyo University

Formerly known as the University of Sokoto, Usman Danfodiyyo University is top notch research based university located in the Northern part of the country.

#30 Babcock University

Babcock University is a private Christian university affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist education system which is the world’s second largest Christian school system.

The university has a state of the art school of medicine which is named after the legendary neurosurgeon Ben Carson.

#31 Adekunle Ajasin University

Located in Akungba Akoko in Ondo State, Adekunle Ajasin University is another prominent university in Nigeria. The university has an ultramodern sports complex with state of the art facilities which include a large gymnasium, standard football pitch and a tennis court

#32 Niger Delta University

The Niger Delta University was established in 2000 and has grown rapidly in the last 17 years to become one of the top 50 universities in the country.

#33 Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST)

Located in Port Harcourt, RSUST is one of the top 50 universities in the country. Currently, the university has been rated as the best e-learning institution in the country. It was established in 1972 as a College of Science and Technology and was granted university status in 1980.

Presently, RSUST is the only university in the country currently offering Marine Engineering degree programs.

#34 Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike

Established in 1992, Michael Okpara University of Technology is another top school located in the South Eastern part of the country.

#35 Ekiti State University

Established in 1982, this university was initially called Obafemi Awolowo University and has undergone three more name changes before it took up its present name.

The university runs over 60 fields of academic specializations.

#36 Redeemers University

Redeemers University is a private Christian university that was established in 2005. Recently, the university received a World Bank Grant to fund the establishment of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases.

#37 University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Established in 1988, the University of Agriculture, Makurdi is one of the three universities of Agriculture in the country.

The university has several links with federal and state Ministries of Agriculture. The school is also involved with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

#38 Osun State University

Osun State University was established in 2006. Until a few years back, UNIOSUN was never involved in the perennial ASUU strike as a result, the school had a pretty fast academic calendar.

It is a multi campus university with campuses in Ikire, Okuku, Osogbo, Ifetedo, Ipetu Ijesha and Ejigbo.

#39 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

This is another top notch university that was established in 1980. The school is located in Bauchi. It took consultations with experts from within the country as well as the United Kingdom and the United State of America to launch this institution. Since then, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University has maintained high technological standards

#40 Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH)

Cross River State University of Technology was established in 2002 when the Polytechnic of Calabar, the College of Education and the Ibrahim Babangida College of Agriculture were merged.

Over the years, CRUTECH has been known to produce excellent graduates in the field of science and technology.

 

#41 Enugu State University of Technology

Established in 1980, the Enugu State University of Technology is one of the foremost universities in the country.

With a student enrolment of over 50 000, the university has grown since its early beginning to become not just a major educational hub in the South Eastern part of the country but in Nigeria as well.

#42 Abia State University

Founded in 1981 with campuses in Uturu and Umuahia, Abia State University is another top university in Nigeria. The university offers over 90 undergraduate and graduate programs across its ten colleges.

#43 Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo (FUNAI)

This is one of the recently established universities in the country. FUNAI was founded in 2011 and currently has a student population of 3000.

#44 Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma

Established in 1981 and named after the former governor of Bendel State which has now become Edo and Delta State.

The university has produced several prominent figures in the country such as Festus Keyamo, Chris Oyakhilome, Tony Elumelu, Alibaba and many others.

#45 Kwara State University

Kwara State University was established by Bukola Saraki in 2009. The university is the first to offer a B.Eng in Aeronautical Engineering in the country

#46 Auchi Polytechnic

This is one of the oldest polytechnics in the country. It was established by the Federal Government in 1964.

The school has continued to adapt its curriculum over the years to meet international standards.

#47 Umaru Musa Yaradua University

Established by the Katsina State University in 2006, the Umaru Musa Yaradua University was initially named the Katsina State University before being renamed after the former President of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yaradua. The university is built with state of the art facilities and has seen its student enrolment grow over the years

 

#48 Imo State University Owerri

Established in 1981 and located in Owerri, the Imo State University is one of the prominent universities in the South Eastern part of the country.

#49 Benue State University

Located in Makurdi, the Benue State University was established in 1992. The university is known for its sophisticated libraries and state of the art sports complex.

#50 Bowen University
Bowen University is a private Christian university that is affiliated with the Baptist Convention. The university was established in 2001 and has grown rapidly since inception to become one of the high ranking schools in the country.

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