Top 50 best universities in Nigeria as of 2025: NUC university ranking
Nigerian universities produce visional and open-minded graduates who efficiently compete in the international workforce. Scholars across Africa have been applying to these institutions even before they featured in the world ranking. Check out the 50 best universities in Nigeria in 2024 below.
Source: UGC
Nigeria has 170 universities, 79 private, 43 federal, and 48 state universities. If you are seeking admission into the best universities in Nigeria or are just curious to know them, check the list below.
NUC university ranking 2024
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, emphasized that the Commission has not conducted any university ranking in Nigeria for the past 14 years.
He conveyed this message during the 5th Convocation ceremony of Baze University in Abuja, stating that the purported rankings circulating on social media, some of which were falsely attributed to the commission, should be disregarded.
These are the twelve higher learning institutes from Nigeria that appeared in the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings:
| University | City/State | World ranking | Nigeria ranking |
| The University of Ibadan | Ibadan, Oyo | 401–500 | 1 |
| The University of Lagos | Yaba, Lagos | 401–500 | 1 |
| Covenant University | Ota, Ogun | 601–800 | 3 |
| Bayero University | Kano, Kano | 1001–1200 | 4 |
| Federal University of Technology Akure | Gaga, Ondo | 1001–1200 | 4 |
| The University of Benin | Benin City, Edo | 1201–1500 | 6 |
| The University of Ilorin | Ilorin, Kwara | 1201–1500 | 6 |
| University of Nigeria Nsukka | Nsukka, Enugu | 1201–1500 | 6 |
| Obafemi Awolowo University | Ile-Ife, Osun | 1201–1500 | 6 |
| Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta | Abeokuta, Ogun | 1501+ | 10 |
| Ladoke Akintola University of Technology | Ogbomoso, Oyo | 1501+ | 10 |
| Nnamdi Azikiwe University | Awka, Anambra | 1501+ | 10 |
Best private universities in Nigeria 2024
There are several private universities in Nigeria. Here is a list of the top:
Source: Original
List of 50 best universities in Nigeria
The University of Ibadan was ranked the best university in Nigeria in the 2023 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Below is a list of all the 50 top-rated private, federal, and state universities in the country:
50. Salem University, Lokoja.
49. Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa-Ondo.
48. Novena University, Ogume-Delta.
47. Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil.
46. Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island-Bayelsa.
45. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
44. Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta.
43. Landmark University, Omu Aran-Kwara.
42. The Lagos State University, Ojo.
41. Kings University, Odeomu-Osun.
Source: UGC
40. The University of Jos.
39. Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
38. Gregory University Uturu, Abia.
37. Fountain University, Oshogbo.
36. First Technical University, Ibadan-Oyo.
35. Federal University of Technology, Owerri Owerri.
34. Federal University of Technology, Minna Minna.
33. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.
32. Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa.
31. Federal University of Kashere, Barri-Gombe.
Source: UGC
30. Federal University Gashua, Yobe.
29. Evangel University, Akaeze-Ebonyi.
28. Edo State University, Uzairue.
27. Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
26. Cross River University of Technology, Calabar.
25. Coal City University, Enugu.
24. Bowen University, Iwo.
23. Benson Idahosa University, Benin City.
22. Bells University of Technology, Ota.
21. Baze University, Abuja.
Source: UGC
20. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ikiti.
19. Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo.
18. Augustine University, Epe, Lagos.
17. American University of Nigeria, Yola.
16. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike.
15. Akwa Ibom State University, Uyo.
14. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.
13. Adamawa State University, Mubi.
12. Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
11. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.
Source: UGC
10. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
9. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
8. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
7. The University of Ilorin, Kwara.
6. The University of Benin, Ugbowo.
5. Federal University of Technology, Akure.
4. Bayero University, Kano.
3. Covenant University, Ota.
2. The University of Lagos, Lagos.
1. The University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
Which university is the best in Nigeria?
The University of Ibadan, Ibadan, is the best in Nigeria, followed by the University of Lagos. Both institutes lie between position 401–500 in the university world ranking.
The best universities in Nigeria offer Petroleum Engineering, Medicine, Data Science, Pharmacy, Architecture, Computer Science, Nursing Science, Law, Accounting, Business Administration, Graphic Design, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and other globally competitive degree programs.
Source: UGC
Legit.ng delved deeper into the most marketable courses in Nigeria. The article lists degree programs that lead to well-paying professions. The demand for these graduates is very high in the country's job market.
Graduates who do not research the job market and courses on demand are highly likely to do courses that will render them unemployed for a long time. Therefore, check the article to find out the most valuable degrees.
Source: Legit.ng
Peris Walubengo (Lifestyle writer) Peris Walubengo has vast experience in search engine optimization through digital content generation, research, editing, and proofreading. She joined Legit.ng in April 2022 and completed the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can email her at perisrodah254@gmail.com.
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
