The education landscape in Nigeria boasts a collection of esteemed institutions that shape the academic and professional futures of thousands of students each year.
These institutions underwent evaluation based on research performance, academic community ratings, and various other factors, solidifying their positions as the leading educational hubs in Nigeria in 2024.
According to the Times Higher Education 2024 rankings, here is a comprehensive rundown of the top 15 universities in Nigeria:
1. Covenant University
Ranked within the bracket of 601–800 globally, Covenant University stands as a private Pentecostal Christian institution established in Ota, Nigeria, in 2002. It houses four colleges, namely the College of Business and Social Sciences, College of Leadership and Development Studies, College of Engineering, and the College of Science and Technology.
2. University of Ibadan (UI)
Founded in 1932, the University of Ibadan was Nigeria’s first university, gaining independent status in 1962. Across its 16 faculties, UI offers diverse academic programs spanning arts, sciences, medical sciences, agriculture, law, technology, and more.
3. Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA)
Located in Akure, the capital city of Ondo state, FUTA comprises 10 schools focusing on various disciplines such as life sciences, engineering, agriculture, environmental technology, and computing.
4. University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Established in 1962, UNILAG, a public research institution situated in Lagos, hosts 12 faculties encompassing fields like arts, clinical sciences, education, engineering, and law.
5. Bayero University Kano (BUK)
BUK, situated in the northern city of Kano, became the state’s first university in 1975. The institution serves as a center for academic pursuits in the region.
6. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
Founded in 1975 and based in Ilorin, UNILORIN provides an array of subjects across agriculture, law, education, engineering, arts, pharmaceutical science, social sciences, veterinary medicine, and management sciences.
7. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Established in 1955 and formally opened in 1960, UNN operates across 15 faculties, offering a multitude of undergraduate and postgraduate programs through its 102 academic departments.
8. Afe Babalola University
A private institution located in Ado-Ekiti, Afe Babalola University, founded in 2009, covers various academic disciplines on its 130-hectare campus.
9. University of Benin (UNIBEN)
Located in Benin City, UNIBEN, established in 1970 as an Institute of Technology, offers programs across two campuses – Ekehuen and the main Ugbowo site.
10. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)
FUNAAB, one of the federal universities of agriculture created in 1988, boasts diverse colleges focusing on environmental research, animal science, agricultural management, engineering, and more.
11. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH)
Initially established in 1990, LAUTECH, located in Ogbomosho, offers various technological and scientific disciplines to its students.
12. Lagos State University (LASU)
As the only state university in Lagos, LASU, established in 1983, serves over 35,000 students across diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels in its campuses at Ojo, Ukeja, and Epa.
13. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Established in 1991, Nnamdi Azikiwe University operates across multiple campuses in Anambra state, offering diverse academic programs.
14. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Originally known as the University of Ife, OAU, established in 1962 and renamed in 1987, organizes its academic offerings into 13 faculties.
15. University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)
Founded in 1975, UNIPORT offers an array of faculties covering health sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering, law, and more, serving Rivers state.
