Nigeria is filled with many higher-level institutions that are competing with world-class standard in their academic programmes and quality of students they produce each year. While most universities in Nigeria are still struggling to stay afloat in this dire economic situation, some other universities are distinguishing themselves in their approach and methods to learning and service. It’s as a corollary to the above that it’s important to look at the top 10 Best Universities in Nigeria someone can attend.
1. University of Ibadan: This is popularly known as UI. This is also one of the best universities in Nigeria. It was founded in 1948 and was initially named University College, Ibadan.This is because it started as a college of the university of London in a special relationship scheme until 1962. This was when it was now made an independent and full-fledged academic institution. Sequel to that, the university now has over fourteen affiliate institutions approved and recognized by the National University Commission ( NUC). At present, the institution has over twelve faculties made up of faculty of Arts, Social sciences, law, environmental sciences, engineering, agriculture etc.
2. University of Lagos: This is popularly known as UNILAG. It was founded in the year 1962 and could be seen as one of those first-generation universities in Nigeria that can be said to have stood the test of time. It’s a government-owned higher institution and is located in Akoka, Lagos state. It has other campuses in different parts of Lagos state. UNILAG has the largest intake of students as it has recorded about forty-seven thousand students admitted into the various departments and colleges. UNILAG runs a regular and continuous education programme. It covers different courses ranging from business administration to educational management and policy.
3. Obafemi Awolowo University: This is popularly known as OAU. It is located in Ile-Ife in Osun state of Nigeria. The university was believed to have been founded in the year 1961. Hence, it is seen as one of the first-generation universities. It was initially named University of Ife by the defunct western region of Nigeria in the year ,1962. It offers different courses under different faculties including the faculties of law, agriculture, Arts, education, social sciences and Humanities.
4. University of Nigeria, Nsukka: This is popularly known as UNN. This institution was established in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe and began full operation in 1962. Its main campus is located in the hinterland of the coal city state called Nsukka. It also have a campus in the Enugu city known as UNEC and college of medicine located at Ituku-Ozalla. UNN is one of the best universities in Nigeria based on research, innovation and academic excellence. It has over ten faculties made of faculty of engineering, law, education, social sciences and so on.
5. Convenant University: This is the best private university that’s in Nigeria. It is the only university that has strong core values that are compelling. Its core values are as follows: spirituality, possiblity mentality, capacity building, integrity, responsibility and sacrifice. It was founded in the year, 2003 by Bishop David Oyedepo, the presiding bishop of the living faith church worldwide Inc. It seems to be in a mission to transform the educational landscape of Nigeria by leveraging on Christian ethos and life-changing values. The institution is located in Ota in Ogun state, Nigeria. The institution has four colleges comprising the college of leadership and development studies, college of engineering, college of business and social sciences and the college of science and technology.
6. Ahmadu Bello University: This is initially called the university of Northern Nigeria before it was renamed after the first premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello. It was established in 1962 and has its location in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria. It is affiliated with over twenty-five institutions, including college of education and polytechnics. Among the faculties in ABU is the faculty of agriculture, education, engineering, law, social sciences etc.
7. University of Portharcourt: This is popularly known as UNIPORT. It’s located in Portharcourt, the capital of Rivers State. It was established in 1976 as a university college and later upgraded to full university in 1977. Even though it’s among the second-generation universities in Nigeria, UNIPORT has recorded many milestone achievements and one of them being that it is the first university to train the first set of nuclear engineers in Nigeria. The university has much focus on petroleum engineering, maybe because of the oil-rich nature of the state. It has about twelve faculties made up of faculty of agriculture, humanities, education, social sciences etc.
8. Nnamdi Azikiwe University: This is popularly known as Unizik. It was named after the first indigenous governor-general of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. The institution is located at Awka, the capital of Anambra state. It has other campuses in Nnewi and Ogwari in the same state. It has different programs including regular and continuous education programme. It has a business school and also center for entrepreneurial studies. It has more than thirteen faculties made up of the faculty of Arts, law, social sciences, management sciences, education, bio-sciences, environmental sciences etc.
9. University of Ilorin: This institution is located in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state. This university is established in the year, 1975 as a college affiliate with the university of Ibadan. It began as the temporary campus of Kwara state polytechnic. The university was among the top 20 universities in Africa in 2014 according to a ranking by an independent body and being the first institution to achieve this feat is epochal. The university has a lot of faculties including the faculty of Arts, Agriculture, Law, social sciences etc.
10. Babcock University: This is one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It got its name from the American missionary, David C. Babcock who pioneered the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The institution was established in 1959 and owned by the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It’s located in Ilisha-Remo, Ogun state, Nigeria. Babcock has the following faculties: the school of social sciences, school of management sciences, school of law and security studies etc.
