system for many decades speak largely to the systemic re-engineering that the education system in Nigeria begs of.
As much as the Nigerian public universities represent a large chunk of the best university in Nigeria - 2023, the private sector is competing fiercely with the government to become the primary provider of standard higher education for the Nigerian population.
Although public schools still account for a large number of students in Nigeria, many parents are beginning to consider private university options as it appears to come with a superior learning experience and maybe, better job opportunities for students as they are more skilled.
In the coming years, one fears that a list examining the best universities in Nigeria like this one will only contain privately owned universities.
The list of the best schools listed below is in no particular order.
13 Best universities in Nigeria in 2023
1. University of Ibadan
2. Lagos State University
3. University of Lagos
4. Covenant University, Ota
5. University of Nigeria Nsukka
6. Obafemi Awolow Univerisity, Ile-Ife
7. Afe Babalola University
8. University of Ilorin
9. Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
10. Federal University of Technology, Akure
11. Federal Unviersity of Technology, Minna
12. Others
1. University of Ibadan
On November 17, 2023, the first and oldest university in Nigeria turns 75-year-old.
Established in 1948 and located in the capital city of Ibadan, UI, as the institution is fondly referred to, is the mother of all universities in Nigeria.
All Nigerian Universities were established after the country gained Independence, UI is the only university founded before Nigeria became independent in 1960.
See Also: Best secondary schools in Nigeria
The University of Ibadan is made up of 92 academic departments organized into 17 faculties, namely Arts, Science, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Education, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, Technology, Law, Public Health, Dentistry, Economics and Management Sciences, Renewable Natural Resources, Environmental Design and Management, and Multidisciplinary Studies.
UI also boasts of one of the best post graduate college in the Nigeria.
In September 2016, it became the first Nigerian university to make the top 1000 in Times Higher Education rankings. Prior to that, it had always made the top 10 African Universities in Webometrics Rankings. UI leads as one of the best universities in Nigeria in 2023.
2. Covenant University
The leading private university in Nigeria in 2023 and one of the best universities in Nigeria as a whole.
Covenant University otherwise known as CU is a private Christian university located in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. It is affiliated with Living Faith Church Worldwide. In 2019, Covenant University became the first Nigerian university to be ranked in the top 401-500 category of world universities by Times Higher Education.
CU has consistently churned out some of the most outstanding alumni who have become leaders in various industries in Nigeria.
Covenant University academic programmes run in four colleges: the College of Business and Social Sciences (CBSS), the College of Leadership Development Studies (CLDS), the College of Engineering (COE) and the College of Science and Technology (CST).
Covenant University runs postgraduate programmes in all the curriculum mentioned above. In 2018, Covenant University won the Nigerian round of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, defeating the University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University to become Nigeria's first representative in the global competition.
3. University of Ilorin
Unilorin is the only public university in Nigeria that has relative autonomy, hence, students’ academic sessions are smooth-running all-year-long – for over 18 years.
Compared to other higher institutions of learning in the country, the institution has one of the largest land areas, covering approximately 15,000 hectares of land. It is reported by JAMB to be the most sought-after Nigerian university in 2021.
The university has fifteen Faculties and dozens of (over 60) Academic Departments. Undergraduate Degree programmes run for 3–5, or 6 years, depending on entry qualifications and chosen discipline. Similarly, the postgraduate programmes are run on different dimensions depending on the nature of the program.
4. University of Lagos
The University of Lagos ranks as one of the best universities in Nigeria in 2023. The school is located in the commercial hub of Nigeria and boasts of some of the most successful alumni in the world.
UNILAG is one of the first-generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in the world in major education publications.
The school has three campuses in the mainland of Lagos where it is located. Whereas two of its campuses are located at Yaba (the main campus in Akoka and the recently created campus at the former school of radiography), its college of medicine is located at Idi-Araba, Surulere.
The university has remained one of the most competitive in the country in terms of admissions. With approximately 57,000 students as of 2013, the University of Lagos has one of the largest student populations of any university in the country.
A recent publication of Forbes magazine ranked the school as the third best university in Africa for entrepreneurship after tagging the University of Lagos the "startup powerhouse" college for Nigerian students.
Best universities in Nigeria in 2023.
5. Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961.
The University started with five Faculties – Agriculture, Arts, Economics and Social studies (now Social Sciences), Law and Science.
Six new Faculties have since been added, namely the Faculty of Education, 1967), the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculties Technology and Health Sciences (now College of Health Sciences), Faculty of Administration and Faculty of Environmental Design and Management.
The university offers undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in fields of specialization spanning the humanities, arts, natural sciences, social sciences, medical sciences, engineering and technology.
OAU has one of the strongest and most successful alumni among universities in Nigeria and remains one of the best universities in Nigeria in 2023.
6. Afe Babalola University
Afe Babalola University has become a formidable institution of learning in Africa. The school tops the rank as one of the best universities in Nigeria in 2023 by all standards.
Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) is a private university located in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. It was founded by a lawyer and philanthropist, Afe Babalola, in 2009. The University offers Academic programs in six Colleges: Sciences, Law, Engineering, Social and Management Sciences, Medicine and Health Sciences, and Postgraduate Studies.
The institution is the first and only University in Nigeria to commence academic activities on the permanent site with all the state-of-the-art facilities in place within 8 months of the turning of the sod.
The school prides itself as the highest private employer of labour in Ekiti State. This is because apart from employing academic and non-academic staff in the state, the institution also has 1000 hectares of land dedicated to cultivation of grains.
7. University of Nigeria Nsukka
UNN is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. It was founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955. The University of Nigeria has three campuses in Enugu State– Nsukka, Enugu, and Ituku-Ozalla – and the Aba campus in Abia State.
The University of Nigeria is the first full-fledged indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria, modelled upon the American educational system.
UNN was the first land-grant university in Africa and one of the five most reputed universities in Nigeria. The university has 15 Faculties and 102 academic departments. The university offers 108 undergraduate programs and 211 postgraduate programmes.
UNN remains one of the best universities in Nigeria.
8. Ahmadu Bello University
ABU was founded on 4th October 1962, as the pioneer university in Northern Nigeria and named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria.
There are more than 90,000 students in ABU running different programmes ranging from diploma and undergraduate to postgraduate. The school is the second largest university on the African continent after the University of Cairo in Egypt.
Out of all the courses run in the university, Medicine and Surgery is the most applied course. According to a statistics from ABU in 2016, 10k people applied and only about 120 were needed. Civil Law is the second most-sought-after course. Ahmadu Bello University is one of the best universities in Nigeria in 2023.
Best universities in Nigeria now
9. Federal University of Technology Akure
Founded in 1981, FUTA is located in Akure Ondo state as one of the federal universities of technologies in Nigeria. The university has nine schools and a college of medicine.
Federal University of Technology Akure has been ranked the eighth-best university and best university of technology in Nigeria by webometrics as of January 2020. It ranks as one of the top 10 best universities in Nigeria in 2023.
10. University of Port-Harcourt
The University of Port Harcourt is located in Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt and was given university status in 1977.
UNIPORT is actually a second-generation University with much focus in Petroleum Engineering. The institution started out as a University College, UNIPORT then later moved on to be a full-fledged University in 1977. They are presently ranked among the list of top ten Universities in Nigeria.
The university has twelve faculties namely:
Faculty of Humanities
Faculty of Social Sciences
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Management Sciences
College of Health Sciences
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Agriculture
Social Science and Humanities .
11. Federal university of Technology, Minna
Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) is a Federal Government owned University located in Minna, Nigeria. The school specializes in technological education. The university is a designated Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and has a core competence in the development of vaccines and drugs.
The University has recorded quite a number of academic achievements which, include the design and fabrication of a number of highly valuable items of socio-economic importance such as the Solar air heater, Motor-car crankshaft, Gearing system for crane hoist drives, Rice de-stoning machine, Maize sheller, Multi-purpose grinder, Irrigation models, Poultry feeder amongst a host of other creative innovations.
FUTMINNA is arguably one of the leading universities in Nigeria in 2023.
So, there we go. That’s out list of the best universities in Nigeria in 2023. Do you need to access low-interest and fast loan for your education finance? Edusko has got you covered. Start here.
