Higher Education in Nigeria

The article is a review of Nigerian universities. The rationale for taking up this issue is an attempt at describing and classifying it as well as transmitting basic information to the reader who may not be well-versed in this subject. Nigeria is a large African country, organized into 36 states and a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja. Previously, the only bodies allowed to operate universities in Nigeria were the federal government and the state governments. In recent years, licenses have also been granted to non-governmental bodies (individuals, corporate bodies, and religious bodies) to establish private universities. The control over the Nigerian university system is for the most part exercised by the federal government which has adopted education as an instrument for national development. Nigerian universities are generally grouped into the following categories: • First-generation universities. Five of these universities were established between 1948 and 1965, following the recommendation of the Ashby Commission which was created by the British Colonial Government. These universities are fully funded by the federal government. They were established primarily to meet the manpower needs of Nigeria and set basic standards for university education in the country. • Second-generation universities. Between 1970 and 1985, 12 additional universities were established and located in various parts of the country. The creation of these universities became imperative because of the increasing population of students qualified for university education and the growing needs for scientific and technological development. • Third-generation universities. The need to establish universities to address special areas of technological and agricultural demand led to setting-up of 10 additional universities between 1985 and 1999. • State universities. Because of pressures from students who could not readily attain admission to any of the federal universities, it became imperative for some state governments to invest in the establishment of universities. • Private universities. In recognition of the need to encourage private participation in the provision of university education, in 1993 the federal government established a law allowing private sectors to found universities (U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, n.d.). Below, there is a directory of Nigerian universities. Where possible, each university is described in the following order: the name of the university, its acronym, year of establishment, outline of its history, location, motto, and contact information. Among them, there are 27 federal universities, 35 state universities, and 34 private universities: The control over the Nigerian university system is for the most part exercised by the federal government which has adopted education as an instrument for national development. Nigerian universities are generally grouped into the following categories: • First-generation universities. Five of these universities were established between 1948 and 1965, following the recommendation of the Ashby Commission which was created by the British Colonial Government. These universities are fully funded by the federal government. They were established primarily to meet the manpower needs of Nigeria and set basic standards for university education in the country. • Second-generation universities. Between 1970 and 1985, 12 additional universities were established and located in various parts of the country. The creation of these universities became imperative because of the increasing population of students qualified for university education and the growing needs for scientific and technological development. • Third-generation universities. The need to establish universities to address special areas of technological and agricultural demand led to setting-up of 10 additional universities between 1985 and 1999. • State universities. Because of pressures from students who could not readily attain admission to any of the federal universities, it became imperative for some state governments to invest in the establishment of universities. • Private universities. In recognition of the need to encourage private participation in the provision of university education, in 1993 the federal government established a law allowing private sectors to found universities (U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, n.d.). Below, there is a directory of Nigerian universities. Where possible, each university is described in the following order: the name of the university, its acronym, year of establishment, outline of its history, location, motto, and contact information. Among them, there are 27 federal universities, 35 state universities, and 34 private universities: