Amidst the instability in the Nigerian government, which makes it difficult to maintain high standards of learning, we have been able to compile the list of Top 10 Best Nigerian Universities.
The list comprises both Federal and State-controlled universities, which means you wouldn’t be finding any private university in the list.
Best Nigerian Universities
Before computing the list, there were lots of factors we put into consideration and one of them happens to be the realization of the latest ranking from various University ranking bodies such as;
- Webometrics
- The Reuters Top 100
- World University Rankings
- Academic Ranking of World Universities
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking
Top 10 Best Nigeria Universities
10. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
The University of Benin AKA UNIBEN happens to be among the highly-rated universities in Nigeria. The school was established in 1970 and was the first University to produce the first female Vice-Chancellor, Grace Alele-Williams (1985-1991).
The University currently has over 40,000 students which consists of both part-time and full-time students. The institution has been growing from strength to strength ever since its establishment. They have quite a number of accredited Faculties, Institutes, Departments, as well as Units. They also offer courses for undergraduates, and postgraduates, certificate levels, and diplomas.
This institution has been known for working with various other institutions both local and international. Some of the bodies they collaborate with most times associated with Agriculture include;
- United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
- Raw Materials Research & Development Council of Nigeria (RMRDC).
- Ford Foundation.
- Public Health and Engineering.
- USAID
9. University of Port Harcourt (Uniport)
The University of Port Harcourt AKA Uniport is a Federal controlled University that started as a college. The institution was established in 1975 and is among the most popular educational institutions in River State.
They became a full-fledged University in 1977 with a total number of six schools which comprises of Educational Studies, Social Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Science Laboratory Technology, Biological Sciences, and Humanities. Presently, they have seven Schools, twelve Faculties, and one College.
8. University of Abuja (UNIABUJA)
The University of Abuja was established in 1990 and started in temporal primary school premises in Gwagwalada. The site was called Uniabuja “mini-campus”.
The University went ahead to acquire over 11,800 hectares which were where they built their main campus as well as offices. The campus contains the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Law, Senate Chamber, Science Laboratories, Faculty of Social Sciences, the Institute of Education, Faculty of Management Sciences, and School of Remedial Studies.
You will also find a Medical Centre that has been endowered with modern medical facilities. You will also find a volleyball pitch, a long tennis court, and an Olympic-sized football field as an additional recreational facility.
7. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
The university which is also known as UNILORIN happens to be one of the seven higher learning institutions established during the military regime in Nigeria. It came into existence in the year 1975 and enrolled its first 200 students on the 23rd of October, 1976, and resumed academic activities two days later (25th October, 1976).
The university first began with 7 basic Faculties which consist of the Faculties of Science, Art, Business, Basic Clinic Sciences, Education, Engineering, and Social Science.
Presently, UNILORIN has 15 faculties which are listed below:
*. Agriculture.
*. Arts.
*. College of Health Sciences (with 2 Faculties-Clinical Sciences and Basic Medical).
*. Communication and Information Sciences.
*. Education.
*. Engineering and Technology.
*. Environmental Sciences.
*. Management Sciences.
*. Life Sciences.
*. Pharmaceutical Science.
*. Physical Sciences.
*. Veterinary Medicine, and Law.
*. Social Sciences.
*. Institute of Education and Unilorin Sugar Research Institute).
*. The Postgraduate School.
6. Federal University of Technology, Minna
This University originated in 1983 during the time Nigeria was more interested in promoting self-reliance in Science, Technology, and Engineering.
The University’s permanent site is situated on 10,650 hectares of land situated at Gidan-Kwano along the Minna – Kataeregi – Bida Road. Some of the facilities that can be recorded on this main campus consist of:
- Computer Centres.
- University Library.
- Staff houses.
- School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT).
- Buildings of ‘School of Engineering and Engineering Technology’ (SEET).
- Students Hostels.
- Students Center.
- Senate Building.
- School of Environmental Technology (SET).
- Industrial Development Centre.
Another name for this university is FUTMINNA and they have been able to produce bright students who have been producing many relevant types of equipment like Solar air heaters, Rice de-stoning machines, Multi-purpose grinders, Motor-car crankshafts, Maize Sheller, Poultry feeder Gearing system for crane hoist drives, Irrigation models and lot more.
5. Obafemi Awolowo University (O.A.U) Ile-Ife
This University was established in 1962 and was previously known as the University of Ife. The university is seated on a whopping 11,862 hectares of land, making it the largest university in Nigeria when it comes to the landmass.
The size of the institution made it possible for them to have one central campus and also accommodate staff quarters, a teaching and research farm, as well as its students’ residential area.
The institution also accommodates several government parastatals consisting of the;
- NACETEM (The National Centre for Technology Management).
- CERD (The Centre for Energy Research and Development).
- ARC SSTE-E (The African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education- English).
- RECTAS (The United Nations Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Survey).
4. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Ahmadu Bello University AKA ABU which happens to be among the top universities in Nigeria was established in 1962.
The university was able to begin full operation in the same year it was established and started with the Clerical Training Centre, Kongo which is the Shika Livestock Farm and the Samaru Agricultural Research Station. They also started with Science and Technology, as well as the Nigerian College of Arts.
ABU began with four different faculties which include Engineering, Agriculture, Science, and Law. There were 426 inaugural students and 15 faculties.
They presently have 2 campuses with 12 Faculties, 82 academic departments, and 1 Post-Graduate School. The enrolment of students has surged up to 35,000.
In addition, the University also has 5 Institutes, 6 Specialized Centers, a Primary School as well as a Consultancy Outfit which offers a vast range of services to the institution and the society at large. There is also a Demonstration Secondary School, a Division of Agricultural Colleges, School of Basic and Remedial Studies.
ABU accommodates more than 6000 non-teaching staff (junior and senior administrative staff) and about 1,400 academic and research staff.
ABU was named after Sir Ahmadu Bello who happens to be the Premier of Northern Nigeria, as well as the Sardauna of Sokoto.
3. University of Ibadan (U.I)
You can also call it UI for short. The University of Ibadan was previously under the University of London, operating as a college. It was established in the year 1947 and as at then offered academic programs in Science, Medicine, and Arts.
Later on, in 1962, the university became an independent full-fledged University and currently offers more academic programs. They also have about 13 faculties which consist of:
- Arts.
- Agriculture and Forestry.
- Basic Medical Sciences.
- Clinical Sciences.
- Dentistry.
- Education.
- Law.
- Pharmacy.
- Public Health.
- Science.
- Social Sciences.
- Technology.
- Veterinary Medicine.
The institution’s University College of Medicine consists of a faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Public Health, and Dentistry, as well as Clinical Sciences.
There are yet other academic units of the university and some of them are:
- Mental Health
- Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CEPACS),
- Institute of Education
- Institute of Child Health
- CPEEL (Centre for Petroleum, Energy, Economics, and Law)
- Institute of African Studies
- Centre for Child Adolescent and
- Centre for Educational Media Resource Studies,
- African Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS),
- Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV), and
- Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI),
- Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT),
- Centre for Drug Discovery, Development & Production (CDDDP),
- Centre for Control & Prevention of Zoonosis (CCPZ).
The University of Ibadan presently plays host to the Pan African University Life & Earth Sciences Institute on behalf of the West African Subregion. The enacted program already has about 97 students who are in their 2nd year.
2. University of Lagos (UNILAG)
The University of Lagos also known as UNILAG was established in 1962 and recognized as one of the best institutions in Nigeria. They are also known as the Nation’s Pride.
They also have 3 campuses which are situated in Yaba, Surulere, and Akoka. They currently have over 40,000 students. They also have 3,365 university staff with 12 faculties which comprise of:
- Arts
- Business Administration
- Basic Medical Science
- Clinical Sciences
- Dental Sciences
- Engineering
- Education
- Environmental Science
- Law
- Pharmacy
- Social Science
- Science
1. University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)
The University of Nigeria Nsukka is also known as UNN which was founded in 1955 by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, though it was officially opened on the 7th of October 1960.
They have four campuses which consist of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC), Ituku-Ozalla (University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH), and the University of Nigeria Aba campus (UNAC).
UNN is the first autonomous university in Nigeria. They have 102 academic departments with 15 Faculties. They also offer 211 postgraduate and 82 undergraduate programs.
The university has one of the best ICT in West Africa, it’s known as the Roar Nigeria Hub (ICT Hub). The hub is a private sector initiative supervised by two engineering graduates of the institution.
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