Best Public Universities in Nigeria 2022: Top 10

Looking at which public universities are the best in Nigeria needs good research.

However, we thrive to achieve this for our readers by doing our own research.

This list of the top 10 best universities is NUC Ranking as well as a combination of UNI ranking and the World Universities ranking data.

Moreover, we are proud to inform you that the best public universities in Nigeria will surprise you.

How do We Rate Best Public Universities in Nigeria?

For any public university to be among the list of best Public universities in Nigeria.

The public universities must meet the following standard:

  • Be licensed or accredited university by NUC
  • Must be offering a bachelor degree courses to students
  • Must be offering a Masters’ and Doctorate degree courses to applicants.
  • Tutor students on face-to-fact (classroom lectures).
  • Has intelligent professors with a good academic background
  • Good student’s feedback and report.

Now let move forward to inform you about the top 10 best public universities in Nigeria.

The Best Public Universities In Nigeria

Here are the top 10 best public universities in Nigeria:

  1. The University of Lagos
  2. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  3. Obafemi Awolowo University
  4. University of Ibadan
  5. University of Ilorin
  6. Ahmadu Bello University
  7. University of Abuja
  8. Federal University of Technology, Akure
  9. Federal University of Technology, Minna
  10. Rivers State University

1. The University of Lagos, Lagos

There is no surprise that the university of Lagos happens to be the best public university in Nigeria.

However, the university was established in 1962 with three campuses located in Akoka, Yaba, and Surulere.

Besides, many individuals know this university through its abbreviation UNILAG.

As you can see, the public university has increased from 131 students in 1963 to 0ver 60,000 students in 2018.

You will be also glad to know that the university has increased to about 3,365 academic staff.

Moreover, the university currently has 12 Faculties, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Business Administration, Clinical Sciences, Dental Sciences, Education, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Law, Pharmacy, Sciences, and Social Sciences.

Not just with that, the university has now started offering distance learning to students who wish to enroll in Accounting, Business Administration, Science Education, and Library Information Services.

Let take a good look at the University of Lagos school fee.

The institution charges between N56,000 to N66,000 for new students and between N14,500 to N19,500 for returning students.

In addition to that, fresh students are to pay N20,000 extra as an acceptance fee.

2. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka

UNN has popularly known by many Nigerians happens to be the second-best public university in Nigeria.

However, the university was founded in 1955 by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe

But officially open for academic activities and registration on the 7th of October 1960.

It was a great joy to many people when this institution was officially open.

Besides, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka happens to be the first institution in the country governed independently.

You will be glad to know that the public university has four campuses in four different locations within the country.

The main campus where all the school activities both academically and research is at Nsukka.

Here are the four campuses of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka;

  • Nsukka (University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN),
  • Enugu (University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, UNEC),
  • Ituku-Ozalla (University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH) and
  • Aba (University of Nigeria Aba campus, UNAC).

In addition to that, the University has 15 Faculties and 102 academic departments.

Additionally, the University offers 82 undergraduate and 211 postgraduate programmes.

Moreover, the university was lucky enough to resume its lectures and academic activities on the same day as the official opening.

It was reported that the University of Nsukka’s initial enrolment was 220 students with 13 academic staff members.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka has been able to produce some noticeable personalities like;

  • Charles Soludo (CBN Governor, 2004 -2009)
  • Herbert Wigwe (CEO, Access Bank)

Currently, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka school fee for freshers is between N55,000 to N60,000.

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

The Obafemi Awolowo University was initially founded as the University of Ife, in 1962.

However, it happens to be one of the biggest universities in Nigeria.

In Fact, The Obafemi Awolowo university takes a landmass of 11,862 hectares of Land.

Moreover, the University has only one campus but houses the staff quarters, both male and female hostels, research centers, and agriculture farms.

The Obafemi Awolowo University, in addition, houses numerous Federal Government parastatals that include;

  • Centre for Energy Research and Development(CERD)
  • African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education- English (ARC SSTE-E)
  • National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM)
  • United Nations Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Survey(RECTAS)

The concept of the University is to be among the leading-rated colleges in Africa with more focus on technological teaching, advanced research, and community service toward solving the social and cultural challenges.

4. University of Ibadan

The University of Ibadan was founded in 1947 with academic programs in Arts, Scientific Research as well as Medicine.

Originally, it was a College in which was affiliated with the University of London.

Nonetheless, it came to be a full-fledged independent University in 1962.

In fact, the establishment has actually expanded ever since to include academic programs in 13 faculties which include:

  • Education,
  • Veterinary Medicine,
  • Pharmacy,
  • Technology,
  • Law,
  • Public Health,
  • Agriculture and Forestry,
  • Dentistry,
  • Arts,
  • Science,
  • Basic Medical Sciences,
  • Clinical Sciences, and
  • Social Sciences.

However, the University of Ibadan has a college of medicine which includes;

  • Basic Medical Sciences,
  • Clinical Sciences,
  • Public Health,
  • Dentistry.

in addition to that, the University of Ibadan academic unit includes the following;

  • Institute of African Studies,
  • Centre for Child Adolescent and Mental Health
  • Centre for Educational Media Resource Studies,
  • African Regional Centre for Information Science (ARCIS),
  • Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT),
  • Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CEPACS),
  • Centre for Petroleum, Energy, Economics, and Law (CPEEL),
  • Institute of Child Health,
  • Centre for Drug Discovery, Development & Production (CDDDP),
  • Centre for Control & Prevention of Zoonosis (CCPZ).
  • Institute of Education,
  • Centre for Sustainable Development (CESDEV), and
  • Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI).

Nevertheless, the University of Ibadan organizes the Pan African University Life & Earth Sciences Institute on behalf of the West African Subregion.

This has enrolled over 500 students from the initial founded day to date.

5. University of Ilorin

This is another best public university in Nigeria due to its consistency in producing good academic performance students.

However, it was founded in 1967 with 200 registered students who enrolled in different faculty of the institution.

During that time, the university only had the Faculties of Art, Science, Education, Engineering, Business, Social Science, and Basic Clinic Sciences.

But if you look into the currently accredited faculties at the University of Ilorin.

You will discover that the institution now has 15 accredited faculties which include;

  • Communication and Information Sciences,
  • Education,
  • Engineering and Technology,
  • Pharmaceutical Science,
  • Veterinary Medicine, and Law;
  • Arts,
  • Agriculture,
  • Environmental Sciences,
  • Life Sciences,
  • Management Sciences,
  • Physical Sciences,
  • Social Sciences,

However, the University of Ilorin also has two faculties operating under the University College of medicine.

The two faculties in the college of medicine at the University of Ilorin include;

  • Basic Medical and
  • Clinical Sciences.

Moreover, there is also have the Institute of Education, Unilorin Sugar Research Institute, as well as the Postgraduate School.

With this, the university has experienced a high increase in the student population.

Currently, the University of Ilorin has 50,000 students and over 500 administrative staff.

6. Ahmadu Bello University

Ahmadu Bello University was founded in 1962 in an inactive location for the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology.

However, the institution was named after the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Sardauna of Sokoto.

Before the university was founded in 1962, there was an urgent need for a higher institution in the northern part of Nigeria.

In order words, the Ashby Commission on Post-School Certificate and Higher Education in Nigeria asks for the higher institutions to be situated in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Following the successful establishment of the university,

It began operation with 15 faculties which include Agriculture, Engineering, Law, Science, and more.

During that time, it was only 426 enrolled students but it has now increased to 35,000 students currently enrolled in 82 academic departments.

Moreover, the university has two campuses, charging between N14,300 to N25,000 from returning students.

In addition to that, the university has about 1,400 academic and research staff and over 6000 administrative staff.

7. University of Abuja

The University of Abuja was founded in 1990 has a “mini campus” conducting lectures on a primary school in Gwagwalada.

After the establishment of the university.

It has to be relocated to the newly approved permanent campus of the institution which covers about 1,800 hectares of land along Airport Road, Abuja.

However, the University’s undergraduate population has increased to 14,000 students currently enrolled in 10 faculties.

Here are the 10 faculties at the University of Abuja

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Veterinary Science
  • Management Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Law; and
  • College of Health Sciences

8. Federal University of Technology, Akure

The Federal University of Technology, Akure was founded in 1981.

However, this was under a drive by the Government to create universities that specialized in producing graduates with practical as well as theoretical knowledge of technologies.

This moves the Government of Nigeria to create other five technological universities.

Besides, the Federal University of Technology now enrolled 15,000 students and 2,000 academic staff.

9. Federal University of Technology, Minna

The Federal University of Technology, Minna was founded in 1983 with an aim of promoting the Nation’s drive for self-reliance in Science, Engineering, and Technology.

However, the University moves ahead to own land of 10,650 hectares in Gidan-Kawano.

Now, this happens to be the permanent site for the university where the following faculties are currently operating.

  • School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT),
  • School of Environmental Technology (SET),
  • Students Hostels,
  • School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET) Buildings,
  • Students Center,
  • University Library,
  • Senate Building,
  • Staff houses,
  • Computer Centre as well as
  • Industrial Development Centre

Moreover, the University has manufactured outstanding equipment that solves social problems and promotes technology in Nigeria.

Some of the innovative products produced by this university are;

  • Motor-car crankshaft
  • Gearing system for crane hoist drives
  • Multi-purpose grinder
  • Maize sheller
  • Solar air heater
  • Multi-purpose grinder
  • Irrigation models
  • Poultry feeder
  • Rice de-stoning machine
  • Motor-car crankshaft
  • Typhoid vaccines and more

10. Rivers State University

Rivers State University was founded in 1972 as Rivers State College of Science and Technology.

However, it was the first technological University to be situated in the Niger Delta region of the nation. In addition to that, it is the first and only University in Nigeria to offer Marine Engineering course.

This has made the University be the most preferred institution to the inhabitants of Nigeria Delta.

Moreover, Rivers State University had also been rated as the best e-learning university in Nigeria.

The University has 22,400 currently enrolled students and over 3,000 academic staff.

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