As a student or parent in Nigeria, you may choose to make the hefty financial sacrifice of placing your child or ward in a private university. And it must be well worth it. It is no longer news that obtaining the best quality education in Nigeria can be rather expensive. That of course cuts across all levels of education whether primary, secondary or tertiary. In fact, some schools are known to receive tuition fees in the range of millions of Naira (or US Dollars) per term, or per semester.
Hence we need to ask: which private universities in Nigeria truly deserve accolades and furthermore, patronage for excellent teaching? Or have the best learning facilities and conducive environment? Consider the safety of your kids also. In short, which private universities in Nigeria are the best alternatives to seeking admission into foreign universities?
I encourage our readers to read carefully through this article, and explore the top 10 private universities in Nigeria at your disposal. Perhaps also, you may discover the reasons we recommend them to you.
Also Read- Top 10 State Universities in Nigeria 2023
Private Universities in Nigeria: General Statistics
The National Universities Commission (NUC) website, in its most recent list of private universities in Nigeria showed a total of 111 fully approved private universities now in existence. That holds true as at the end of October 2022.
Also note that these private universities do not require their prospective students to undergo the JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) examinations as criteria for admission.
JAMB is the authorized examination body appointed to oversee and conduct the first stage of matriculation examination into all federal and state higher institutions in Nigeria.
Thus, each private university conducts its own matriculation examination (POST-UTME) and qualification interviews for students. Also, each private university is deemed to set its own tuition fees and general admission requirements, in conformity with the rules of the NUC.
However, it would be necessary for a prospective candidate to have all his/her O’level results intact (WAEC or NECO as the case may be). Particularly the mandatory 5 credits in Mathematics, English and the required course-related subjects.
Private Universities in Nigeria: World Rankings
We are excited to say our private universities in Nigeria have featured prominently in the Times Higher Education (THE) website’s latest world universities rankings of October 2022. Also noteworthy is the fairly positive feedback from some of the following alternative world university ranking portals :
– the US News Best Global Universities (October 2022),
– the Scimago Institutions Rankings (April 2022),
– URAP World Rankings (November 2022),
– RUR World University Rankings (2022)
– Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities (July 2022), and
– the UniversityGuru website.
A quick summary of our findings from these sites are presented below.
Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 5th
- Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: national 3 / global 601
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: national 2 / global 664
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
Strong points: Four Colleges (Engineering, Science & Technology, Business & Social Sciences, Leadership & Development Studies); ten student halls of residence, a chapel, a 3-storey central library, a stadium hosting several varieties of sports.
Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun state: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 15th
- Student satisfaction: {Not available}
- THE World university Rankings: {Not available}
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: national 16 / global 550
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national 28 / global 3970
Also Read- Top 10 Federal Universities in Nigeria 2023
Strong points: Seven faculties (Humanities, Law, Social Sciences, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences), College of Postgraduate, an award-winning research centre (ACEGID), several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, a central library.
Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 16th
- Student satisfaction: 4.4 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: national 4 / global 801
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: national 3 / global 505
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national 10 / global 2421
Strong points: Three Colleges (Science & Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Business & Social Sciences), School of Postgraduate Studies, eight on-campus student hostels, several modern lecture rooms, extensive Engineering workshop, well-equipped laboratories, a large central library, a large ICT centre (CSIS).
Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 20th
- Student satisfaction: 4.7 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: national 1 / global 301
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: national 12 / global 545
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: {Not available}
Strong points: Six colleges (Engineering, Sciences, Law, Social & Management sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Postgraduate Studies), a well-developed teaching hospital, a large sports facility (Talent Discovery Center) hosting over 35 games; on-campus student halls of residence, staff residences.
American University of Nigeria, Yola Adamawa State
- Overall national ranking: 35th
- Student satisfaction: 4.6 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: {Not available}
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: {Not available}
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national 43 / global 5217
Strong points: Six Schools (Law, Engineering, Arts & Sciences, Business & Entrepreneurship, Information Technology & Computing); nine on-campus student halls of residence, many international undergraduate & postgraduate programs, an extensive multi-section library, a wide range of sports; a 3500-capacity sports hall, award-winning electronic library with many sections.
Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo Ogun State: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 36th
- Student satisfaction: 4.4 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings (Quality Education): national 2 / global 601
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: {Not available}
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national 53 / global 6759
Strong points: Ten schools (Law & Security Studies, Nursing Sciences, Public & Allied Health, Management Sciences, Computing & Engineering Sciences, Science & Technology, Veronica Adeleke School of Social Sciences, Benjamin S. Carson (Snr) Collegel of Health & Medical Sciences, College of Postgraduate Studies), well-developed sports unit & sports fields, on-campus student halls of residence (regular, classic & premium), a teaching hospital, a library, good laboratories, a chapel, a recovery bay supervised by qualified nurses.
Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Akure-Ilesha Road, Ikeji Osun State: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 37th
- Student satisfaction: 4.1 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: {Not available}
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: {Not available}
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national 51 / global 6306
Strong points: Seven colleges (Law, Management Sciences, Health Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture & Natural Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Postgraduate Studies); well-developed sports facilities; a central library; numerous undergraduate, postgraduate, and distant learning programmes; JUPEB (Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board) programme, on-campus student hostels.
Lagos Business School – Pan-Atlantic University, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ajah Lagos: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 40th
- Student satisfaction: 4.3 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: 50
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: {Not available}
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national 64 / global 7908
Strong points: An entrepreneurship centre (EDC), four Schools (Lagos Business School, School of Science & Technology, School of Management & Social Sciences, School of Media & Communication), Institute of Humanities, several on-campus student hostels.
Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 41st
- Student satisfaction: 4.5 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: {Not available}
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: {Not available}
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national / global
Strong points: Seven Colleges (Agriculture, Engineering & Science, Management & Social Sciences, Law, Health Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Liberal Studies, Computing & Communication Studies); offer undergraduate, postgraduate & Distance Learning programmes; a teaching hospital; active online learning management portal for students; central library; departmental & faculty libraries, staff quarters; sports centre; adequate halls of residence for students (fully on-campus), good laboratories.
Baze University, Cadastral Zone Abuja: Statistics
- Overall national ranking: 42nd
- Student satisfaction: 4.1 / 5.0
- THE World university Rankings: {Not available}
- Scimago Institutions Rankings: {Not available}
- URAP World Ranking: {Not available}
- Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities: national 71 / global 8417
Strong points: Five Faculties (Management & Social Sciences, Law, Computing & Applied Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Medical & Health Sciences), a Postgraduate school, four blocks of student hostels (500 capacity each), a Library Complex, Staff housing complex.
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