List of Federal Universities in Nigeria -

As of March 2025, there are 67 federal universities in Nigeria, following recent approvals by the president. Among these, 29 are specialized institutions, while 5 are uniformed universities, such as those affiliated with the Army and Navy.

The oldest federal university in Nigeria is the University of Ibadan (UI), formerly known as University College before the country’s independence. Five of the federal universities belong to the first-generation category, established before 1970. These include:

University of Ibadan (UI) – Founded in 1948
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) – Established in 1960
University of Lagos (UNILAG) – Established in 1962
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria – Established in 1962
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), formerly University of Ife – Established in 1962

Some of these institutions were previously colleges of education before being upgraded to university status. For example, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, was elevated to Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo, in 2022 under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari while one private university Nok University Kachia was taken over by the government and renamed Federal University of Applied Sciences Kachia.

Today, the federal government has ensured the presence of at least one federal university in each of Nigeria’s 36 states.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) serves as the regulatory body overseeing accreditation of academic programmes in these universities and others across the country.

Below is the complete list of 66 federal universities in Nigeria, arranged from the newest to the oldest.

S/N	Federal Universities	Year of establishment	Host State
1	Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies Iragbiji	2025	Osun
2	Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences Iyin Ekiti	2025	Ekiti
3	Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) Ogoni	2025	Rivers
4	Federal University of Applied Sciences Kachia	2025	Kaduna
5	Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences Abeokuta	2023	Ogun
6	Federal University of Education, Kano	2023	Kano
7	Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri	2023	Imo
8	Federal University of Education, Zaria	2023	Kaduna
9	Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi	2023	Adamawa
10	Federal University of Health Sciences, Katsina	2023	Katsina
11	Federal University of Health Sciences Kwale	2023	Delta
12	Federal University of Agriculture Bassam-Biri	2023	Bayelsa
13	National University of Science and Technology, Abuja	2023	FCT
14	African Aviation and Aerospace University, Abuja	2023	FCT
15	Admiralty University Ibusa	2023	Delta
16	Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo	2022	Ondo
17	Federal University of Transportation Daura	2022	Katsina
18	David Nweze Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu	2022	Ebonyi
19	Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun	2021	Osun
20	Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare	2021	Bauchi
21	Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi	2021	Akwa Ibom
22	Federal University of Technology, Babura	2021	Jigawa
23	Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru	2020	Kebbi
24	Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo	2020	Benue
25	Nigerian Army University Biu	2018	Borno
26	Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna	2018	Kaduna
27	Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko	2018	Delta
28	Nigeria Police Academy Wudil	2013	Kano
29	Federal University, Gusau	2013	Zamfara
30	Federal University, Birnin Kebbi	2013	Kebbi
31	Federal University Gashua	2013	Yobe
32	Federal University, Wukari	2011	Taraba
33	Federal University, Oye-Ekiti	2011	Ekiti
34	Federal University, Otuoke	2011	Bayelsa
35	Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu-Alike	2011	Ebonyi
36	Federal University, Lokoja	2011	Kogi
37	Federal University, Lafia	2011	Nasarawa
38	Federal University, Kashere	2011	Gombe
39	Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina	2011	Katsina
40	Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State	2011	Jigawa
41	Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun	2007	Delta
42	National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja	2002	Nationwide
43	Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka	1992	Anambra
44	Michael Okpara University of Agricultural Umudike	1992	Abia
45	University of Uyo	1991	Akwa Ibom
46	Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi	1988	Benue
47	Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta	1988	Ogun
48	University of Abuja, Gwagwalada (Yakubu Gowon University)	1988	FCT
49	Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi	1988	Bauchi
50	Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna	1985	Kaduna
51	Federal University of Technology, Minna	1982	Niger
52	Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola	1981	Adamawa
53	Federal University of Technology, Akure	1981	Ondo
54	Federal University of Technology, Owerri	1980	Imo
55	Usumanu Danfodiyo University	1975	Sokoto
56	University of Port-Harcourt	1975	Rivers
57	University of Jos	1975	Plateau
58	University of Maiduguri	1975	Borno State
59	University of Ilorin	1975	Kwara
60	University of Calabar	1975	Cross River
61	Bayero University, Kano	1975	Kano
62	University of Benin	1970	Edo
63	Ahmadu Bello University Zaria	1962	Kaduna
64	University of Lagos	1962	Lagos
65	Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife	1962	Osun
66	University of Nigeria, Nsukka	1960	Enugu
67	University of Ibadan	1948	Oyo State

NOTE: The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), the largest open university in Africa, has study centers in all state capitals across Nigeria. There are also 63 universities established and funded by the state governments.

Opeyemi Quadri

Ope is a seasoned content creation specialist and researcher with over a decade of experience writing on education, student aid, and government policies. He is deeply passionate about education-related data.

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