Nigeria: largest universities | Statista (2024)

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Sep 16, 2022

As of 2019, the National Open University of Nigeria was the largest university in the country in terms of number of students. That year, the number of all students enrolled reached 565 thousand. The National Open University of Nigeria is the largest open and distance learning institute on the whole African continent. It is based in Abuja, but has several campuses across Nigeria. Moreover, the University of Maiduguri counted almost 75 thousand students, ranking second in the chart.

Largest universities in Nigeria as of 2019

CharacteristicNumber of students
National Open University of Nigeria565,385
University of Maiduguri74,522
University of Ilorin53,782
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria52,705
University of Benin51,282
University of Lagos45,552
University of Jos39,404
University of Calabar38,436
Bayero University37,812
Ambrose Alli University37,584
Nasarawa State University35,466
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka33,132
University of Nigeria32,486
University of Port-Harcourt32,462
Obafemi Awolowo University32,401
Benue State University, Makurdi29,664
University of Uyo28,713
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology26,865
Tai Solarin University of Education24,515
University of Ibadan24,497
Federal University of Technology, Owerri24,394
Imo State University23,610
University of Abuja23,525
Federal University of Technology, Minna23,510
Adekunle Ajasin University22,837
Usmanu Danfodiyo University21,750
Ekiti State University21,529
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University21,528
Federal University of Technology, Akure21,284
Rivers State University20,799
Lagos State University20,652
Delta State University20,061

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Nigeria: largest universities | Statista (2024)

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Nigeria: largest universities | Statista? ›

The National Open University of Nigeria is the largest university in the country in terms of student numbers. It is also the largest open and distance learning institute on the whole African continent.

What is the bigger school in Nigeria? ›

University of Ilorin

15,000 hectares The biggest university in Nigeria. The University of Ilorin is ranked first among Nigerian universities with the biggest landmass. With 15,000 hectares of land, it is the biggest university in Nigeria.

Which state university is No 1 in Nigeria? ›

London, United Kingdom - Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo state, has been rated as the best state-owned university in Nigeria. Lagos State University, Ojo (LASU) and Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) came second and third respectively.

What is Nigeria's most prestigious university? ›

Covenant University listed as number 1

Per a recent report by University World News, the Nigerian list is led by Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state, while the University of Ibadan (UI), is second, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state, emerged third.

What is the fastest growing university in Nigeria? ›

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has described the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), as the fastest growing young university in Nigeria.

What is the largest federal university in Nigeria? ›

University of Ilorin, also known as Unilorin, is a federal government-owned university in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The university sits on an expansive area of land, about 15,000 hectares in the ancient city of Ilorin; making it the largest university in Nigeria and one of the largest in Africa by landmass.

Which school is the finest in Nigeria? ›

Ranking as the number 1 best school in Nigeria in 2021, Lifeforte was ranked second in the list in 2022 and this year, it has regained its position as the best school in Nigeria in 2023.

Who is more educated in Nigeria? ›

Furthermore, the base of the Yorùbá, the Southwest Nigeria, has overwhelming largest number of schools - public, private, primary, secondary and tertiary. Therefore, this points to the fact that Yorùbá is most likely to be more educated, but Igbo people are doing very well.

Does Nigeria have good education? ›

The quality of basic education is extremely poor, leading to low demand and unacceptably low academic performance. Of the 30 million primary school-aged children in the country, it is estimated that up to 10 million are not enrolled in formally recognized schools.

Which state university is the most expensive in Nigeria? ›

Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State, tops the list with a tuition fee of N12m, including accommodation fees. Nile University, Abuja's most expensive programme, Medicine and Surgery, costs N5.95m, according to the school's website.

Is lasu better than unilag? ›

THE ranked UI, LASU, and UNILAG as first, second, and third respectively in Nigeria. Privately-owned Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, was ranked fourth ahead of the Federal Government-owned University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which came fifth; and Obafemi Awolowo University, sixth in Nigeria.

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