Institutional Rankings

Top 20 Nigerian Universities Recognized by JAMB in 2023

9th May 2023

Ferdinand | EducationGhana |May 09|Top 20 Nigerian Universities Recognized by JAMB in 2023

Choosing a university is an important decision in a student’s life. In Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is the main authority that determines which universities are recognized and offer admission. In this article, we will be looking at the top twenty Nigerian universities recognized by JAMB in 2023.

What is JAMB?

JAMB is the body responsible for overseeing the admission process of Nigerian universities. It is responsible for setting the academic requirements and conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). JAMB determines which universities are recognized and which ones are not.

Ranking Methodology

This indicates the specific methods that were employed to arrive at the top 20 universities being recognized by JAMB for admission in Nigeria.

JAMB recognizes universities based on their academic performance, the quality of their faculty and staff, and their overall reputation.

JAMB also takes into consideration the number of students enrolled in a particular university and the number of courses offered. The universities are then ranked according to their performance in these categories.

Top 20 Nigerian Universities Recognized by JAMB in 2023

The following are the top twenty Nigerian universities recognized by JAMB in 2023:

University of Lagos
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ahmadu Bello University
University of Nigeria
Covenant University
University of Ibadan
University of Benin
Federal University of Technology, Akure
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
University of Port Harcourt
University of Abuja
Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
University of Calabar
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi
Bayero University, Kano
University of Uyo
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
Federal University, Dutsinma

1. University of Lagos

The University of Lagos is a leading institution dedicated to quality teaching, learning, research and community service. They have over the past few years developed leaders in many disciplines through their various programmes.

As the University of First Choice and the Nation’s Pride, they place a great premium on the development and welfare of our staff and students both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Since its establishment in 1962, the institution has continued to play a key role in nation-building by moulding the teeming youth population through its teaching, research and community services.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a public research university located in Lagos State, Nigeria. It was established in 1962 by the Federal Government of Nigeria and is one of the premier universities in Nigeria.

It offers a wide range of courses in Law, Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

2. Obafemi Awolowo University

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a public research university located in Osun State, Nigeria. It was established in 1961 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife is one of three Universities established in Nigeria between 1961 and 1962 as a result of the report submitted to the Federal Government in September 1960, by a Commission it appointed in April 1959 under the Chairmanship of Sir Eric Ashby, Master of Clare College,

Cambridge, to survey the needs of post-secondary and higher education in Nigeria over the next twenty years. On 8th June 1961, the Law providing for the establishment of the Provisional Council of the University was formally inaugurated under the Chairmanship of Chief Rotimi Williams.

On 11th June 1970, an Edict known as the University of Ife Edict, 1970 was promulgated by the Government of the Western State to replace the Provisional Council Law of 8th June, 1961. This Edict has since been amended by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Amended) Edict No. 112 of 1975

(Transitional Provisions) Decree No.23 of 1975. This new Decree effected a takeover of the Obafemi Awolowo University by the Federal Military Government and established a Provisional Council as an interim governing body of the

University which shall subject to the general direction of the Head of the Federal Government, control the policies and finances of the University and manage its affairs. This Provisional Council has since been replaced by a Governing Council.

3. Ahmadu Bello University

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a public research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was established in 1962 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a federal government research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State. ABU was founded on October 4, 1962, as the University of Northern Nigeria.

The university operates three main campuses: Samaru and Kongo in Zaria, and the School of Basic Studies in Funtua.

The Samaru campus houses administrative offices, sciences, social sciences, arts and languages, education, environmental design interior, engineering, medical sciences agricultural sciences and research facilities. The Kongo campus hosts the Faculties of Law and Administration.

The Faculty of Administration consists of Accounting, Business Administration, Local Government and Development Studies and Public Administration Departments. Additionally, the university is responsible for a variety of other institutions and programs at other locations.

The university is named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria.

The university runs a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs (and offers associate degrees and vocational and remedial programs). The university has a large medical program with its own A.B.U. Teaching Hospital, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Nigeria and Africa.

4. University of Nigeria

The University of Nigeria (UNN) is a public research university located in Enugu State, Nigeria. It was established in 1960 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has three campuses in Enugu State– Nsukka, Enugu, and Ituku-Ozalla.

The University of Nigeria is the first full-fledged indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria, modelled upon the American educational system. It was the first land-grant university in Africa and one of the five most reputed universities in Nigeria.

The university has 17 Faculties and 102 academic departments. The university offers 108 undergraduate programs and 211 postgraduate programmes.

The university celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2010 and would have celebrated its 60th anniversary in October 2020 save for the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

A law to establish a university in the Eastern Region of Nigeria was passed on 18 May, 1955. This date marks the formal beginning of the history of the University of Nigeria, with the enactment of legislation by several Nigerian leaders, inspired particularly by the then Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

One of the first steps taken by the Eastern Nigeria Government towards the implementation of its commitment was an invitation to both the United States of America and the United Kingdom to send advisers to help in the planning of physical and educational aspects of the proposed university.

5. Covenant University

Covenant University (CU) is a private research university located in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. It was established in 2002 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

Covenant University is a private Pentecostal Christian University, which has been operating with official status since 2002 in Ota, Nigeria.

Covenant University is one of the leading universities in Africa founded on Christian mission ethos. It drives a vision to raise a new generation of leaders and reinstate the black race’s dignity. The University prioritizes cutting-edge learning to make the Total Man.

The university has four colleges which include: The College of Business and Social Sciences; the College of Leadership and Development Studies; the College of Engineering, and the College of Science and Technology.

Covenant University has had a rapid rise in nearly two decades of its existence. The webometric ranking named Covenant University the best Private University in Nigeria in its 2021 ranking and the second-best university overall.

6. University of Ibadan

The University of Ibadan (UI) is a public research university located in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. It was established in 1948 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in the fields of Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

7. University of Benin

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) is a public research university located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It was established in 1970 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in the fields of Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

8. Federal University of Technology, Akure

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) is a public research university located in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. It was established in 1981 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in the fields of Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

9. Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) is a public research university located in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. It was established in 1980 and is one of the leading universities in Nigeria. It offers a wide range of courses in the fields of Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences. It is also one of the few universities in Nigeria to offer postgraduate programs.

10. University of Port Harcourt

The University of Port Harcourt is located in Choba in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt and was given university status in 1977.

11. University of Abuja

The UofA of Nigeria was established in 1988 with three colleges namely: College of Arts and Education; College of Law, Management and Social Sciences; and College of Science and Agriculture.

The total population of students at inception was less than five hundred, but today, the UofA has twelve faculties and about to start three new ones, and has more than forty thousand students!

The UofA has continued to witness tremendous and rapid growth in terms of academic programmes, infrastructural development, staff strength, student population, research, and innovation.

The University of Abuja is the model University in Nigeria and has developed robust developmental strategies to meet and sustain that status and remain a pride of Nigerians and humanity in the provision of higher education. It is dedicated to quality teaching, learning, and research. It offers both staff and students a serene and conducive environment for living, working, teaching, learning, and research.

12. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, also called UNIZIK or NAU in short is a federal university in Nigeria. It consists of two campuses in Anambra State. Its main campus is in Awka, while its other campus is in Nnewi. There are also other campuses of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

13. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), a first-grade unique Institution of higher learning, is an autonomous public institution with the general function of providing liberal higher education and research in Nigeria.

The University was established on April 23, 1990, under the old Oyo State with the name Oyo State University of Technology, Ogbomoso (OSUTECH). Upon the creation of the Osun State out of the Old Oyo State in 1991, the name of the University was changed to LadokeAkintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH).

The University was jointly owned by the Oyo and Osun States until November 20, 2020 when the University became solely owned by the Oyo State following a mutual agreement between the two states.

14. University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State (FUNAAB) was established on January 1, 1988 by the Federal Government when four Universities of Technology, earlier merged in 1984, were demerged. This led to the creation of the first two Universities of Agriculture in Abeokuta and Makurdi.

On the same date, Professor Nurudeen Olorun-Nimbe Adedipe was appointed the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the University. Professor Adedipe officially assumed duty on January 28, 1988. For many years the date which Professor Adedipe assumed duty was wrongly adopted as the foundation day of the University.

Following a revisit to the instrument setting up the University, a Council decision at its 53rd Statutory meeting in June 2010 reverted the foundation date to January 1st 1988 as prescribed by the law which established the University.

Prior to the emergence of UNAAB, the Federal Government had established the Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta (FUTAB) in 1983. Then, in 1984, it was merged with the University of Lagos and had its name changed to the College of Science and Technology, Abeokuta (COSTAB), before the demerger of January, 1988.

The University started off from the old Campus of Abeokuta Grammar School, Isale-Igbein near the city centre. It completed its movement to its Permanent Site along Alabata Road in 1997, in what has been termed the fastest pace of Permanent Site development in the history of Nigerian University System.

15. University of Calabar

The University of Calabar grew out of the Calabar campus of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nigeria which began functioning during the 1973 academic session with 154 students and a small cadre of academic, administration and professional staff.

In April 1975, the Federal Military Government of Nigeria announced that as part of the National Development Plan, seven new Universities were to be established at various locations in the country. The University of Calabar was one of the seven Universities set up under this programme.

16. Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Joseph Sarwuan Tarkaa University (JOSTUM), former Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM) established on 1^st of January, 1988 had evolved from the defunct Federal University of Technology which was established in 1980 and later became the Makurdi campus of the University of Jos (UniJos) in October, 1980.

The underlying philosophy is that the average Nigerian farmer should have easy access to the fruits of scientific agriculture. This means that the university scientific community must work on the practical problems of village farmers.

Also, the students to become useful and effective extension agents must be for adequately exposed to the discipline of practical farm planning, production and marketing and a period of supervised farming internship at the village level.

The basic philosophy then is the democratization and liberation of the scientific transformation of Nigerian agriculture with small-scale farmers in the vanguard.

17. Bayero University, Kano

Bayero University has evolved from a small college running Advanced Level training programmes to one of the respected Nigerian Universities, recognized beyond the shores of the country.

The seed of Bayero University Kano was the Ahmadu Bello College set up in 1960, located within the School for Arabic Studies (SAS),

in the old city of Kano. With the establishment of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1962, it was renamed Abdullahi Bayero College. In 1964 it moved to a temporary site at the old Kano Airport Hotel, admitting its first set of ten undergraduate students for a B.A. degree programme of Ahmadu Bello University.

18. University of Uyo

The University of Uyo was founded in 1991 by the Federal Government of Nigeria. At the time, there existed in Uyo the University of Cross River State which was established in 1981 by the then Cross River State Government.

In 1987 Akwa Ibom State with headquarters at Uyo was created out of the Cross River State and from that time up to the time of Federal Government take-over in 1991, the University was jointly owned by Akwa Ibom and Cross River State Governments.

When first proposed by the President, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the University was to be a Federal University of Technology (FUT) and the Campus of the University of Cross River State at Uyo was to be the nucleus of the proposed University.

Following representations and series of implementation strategy meetings, it was finally resolved by a letter dated 24th September 1991 that “the Federal Government has decided that University of Cross Rivers State should be converted into a Conventional University instead of a FUT”. Academic activities commenced in 1991/92 session.

What is today called the University of Uyo has a humble but unique historical metamorphosis. The campus where the University of Uyo is situated started in the 1930’s as a practising school and became a Teacher Training College in the 1940’s. It was upgraded to Advanced Teachers’ Training College in the 1960’s.

In 1975, it became a College of Education and was converted to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) in 1983. In 1991, the erstwhile University of Cross River State assumed a new status and nomenclature called the University of Uyo, a Federal University. It is a citadel of learning, research and community development.

The University is located in the heart of Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Uyo is accessible by road and there are two International Airport within 100km radius – the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, Cross River State and the Ibom International Airport in Uyo,Akwa Ibom State.

The University runs a multi-campus system namely: The Main Campus, the Town Campus and Annex Campus, the College of Health Sciences Campus and the Ime Umanah Campus.

Though a third generation University in Nigeria, the University of Uyo is competing favourably with most first-generation Universities in Nigeria and has recorded various strides.

19. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) in Delta State, Nigeria was established and approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of 14 March 2007 and admitted its first set of undergraduates in 2008.^[1]

The university was established under the Federal Government of Nigeria^[2] initiative, to build a specialized university in the Niger Delta to produce middle and higher-level manpower and expertise for the oil and gas sector.

The National Universities Commission(NUC) approved sharing of facilities between the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun and Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun until it moved to its permanent site on development of its main campus at Ugbomro, Uvwie Local Government Area Delta State, in 2010.^[7]

FUPRE, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun is the first petroleum university in Africa and sixth in the world.

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20. Federal University, Dutsinma

The Federal University, Dutsin-ma is located in Dutsin-ma Local government Area of Katsina State, which is located in the North-Western region of Nigeria, bordering Niger Republic, Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa States.

The establishment of the Federal University Dutsin-ma along with eight other Federal Universities is in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s determination to run a technology-driven economy with the aim of achieving the vision 20:2020,

to further improve the nation’s knowledge base and expand access to education, which is a defining factor in the establishment of institutions of learning in Nigeria.

The overall goal of the establishment was to tackle the challenges of inadequate space for eligible university applicants. Thus the nine new Federal Universities, which were established in States where none existed, are positioned to strike a balance between access, equity and quality, thereby creating an avenue for indigenous appreciation of educational values.

The establishment of Federal University Dutsin-ma along with eight other universities as a first phase in the approved establishment of twelve new universities on the basis of equity and access was consequent on a memorandum presented by the then Minister of State,

Education, Olorogun Kenneth O. Gbagi to the Federal Executive Council, at its 39th meeting held on Wednesday, 10th November 2010, recommending the establishment of 44 additional tertiary institutions nationwide.

Under the chairmanship of Prof. Julius A. Okojie, Executive Secretary, the National Universities Commission (NUC), a twelve-member technical committee developed the modalities for the location and take-off of Federal University, Dutsin-ma and the other eight universities in the report presented to the Honourable Minister on Monday, 15th November, 2010.

This was followed with a visit by the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayat Ahmed Rufa’i, OON accompanied by the Director (Tertiary Education), Federal Ministry of Education and the executive Secretaries of NUC as well as the Education Trust Fund (ETF)

. With the support of the State Government, permanent as well as take-off site were identified, subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council, and Council approved the sum of N1.5 billion take-off grant, to be sourced from the ETF.

On 7th February, 2011, in his capacity as Visitor to Federal Universities, the President and Commander in Chief, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, appointed Prof. James O.I. Ayatse and Mal. Muhammad Yusuf Abubakar as Vice Chancellor and Registrar, respectively.

These appointments were communicated by the Honourable minister of Education on Wednesday, 9th February 2011, and took effect from 16th February 2011. The Vice Chancellor and Registrar officially assumed office on 10th March, 2011,

the day they were formally presented to the Government and people of Katsina State by the Honourable Minister of Education. The Vice Chancellor subsequently appointed Mr Sadiq Momoh Jimoh and Mallam Misbahu Naiya as the Deputy Bursar, and Deputy Librarian, respectively.

The Federal University Dutsin-ma whose main objective is to encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction the opportunity of acquiring higher and liberal education matriculated her pioneer students of 219 spread across three faculties,

namely: Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Arts and Management Studies, and Faculty of Science and Science Education. Currently, there are 1754 students consisting of 1255 males and 499 females registered in the 21 Departments of the three Faculties.

University Administration and Governance
The Federal Government of Nigeria stands as the sole proprietor and source of funds for the Federal University, Dutsin-ma, while His Excellency, the President and commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the Visitor to the university.

However, from its inception till date, Katsina State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Ibrahim Shema, FNIM has contributed generously towards the infrastructural development on the take-off campus.

At full administrative maturity, the Visitor will exercise his control through the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission, the Chancellor, who essentially is ceremonial, and Governing Council.

The Vice Chancellor is the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the University. He is supported by other Principal Officers such as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor(s), the Registrar, the University Librarian and the Bursar.

The striking features in the logo of the Federal University, Dutsin-ma are some rocks, a wheel and a calf. Also included in the logo is a fine blend of carefully selected colours to signify the focus and integrity of the university.

Conclusion

The top twenty Nigerian universities recognized by JAMB in 2023 are the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria, Covenant University,

University of Ibadan, University of Benin, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, University of Port Harcourt, University of Abuja, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,

The University of Calabar, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Bayero University, Kano, University of Uyo, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, and Federal University, Dutsinma. Each of these universities offers a wide range of courses in various fields and provides quality education and research opportunities.