Could you be a Nigerian student, the typical kid of an average family who desires quality education in a Nigerian university? Or perhaps you cannot afford the expensive foreign universities, or the equally high-end private ones available right here on home soil. Perhaps we can look towards those state universities in Nigeria with impressive performances and facilities.
So, are there state universities in Nigeria with a meaningful pedigree, and the ability to deliver quality training (and facilities) to students? And can their lecturers or even students compete with their federal counterparts? In this article, we will expose to you the top 10 state universities in Nigeria.
State Universities in Nigeria: An Overview
A state university as the name implies, is a university established and mainly funded by the government of the host state. Also, the tuition fees paid by students (in addition to state funding) aid these state universities financially. In addition, they receive donations from philanthropists, and their wealthy alumni. Research grants, royalties (from inventions), and rents from hosted business entities are another source of funds.
Thus, besides being funded by the federal government, federal universities also get funded in roughly the same way. But for the record, state universities are designed to be cheaper than federal universities. However, that has largely not been the case in Nigeria. Also note that the graduates and lecturers of these state universities are accorded the same status as their federal counterparts.
Problems with Funding Federal and State Universities in Nigeria
Obtaining the much-needed government funding for federal and state universities in Nigeria has been a subject of controversy for decades. The situation has resulted in innumerable industrial strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). While their fellow academic unions supervising Nigerian polytechnics and colleges of education are not left out. All this is in a bid to re-negotiate for better treatment, and a higher allocation from the government. These industrial strikes have had a huge economic impact and caused setbacks to the students, their parents, and the nation at large.
It is noteworthy that the government allocation for the entire education sector in Nigeria stood at a meager 5.39% of the 2022 budget. Which of course is ridiculously low. Thus, we can clearly see that the Nigerian educational sector receives inadequate attention from the government altogether. It has been a recurring decimal for many years now.
State Universities in Nigeria: General Statistics
Presently, there are a total of 63 state universities in Nigeria listed by the National Universities Commission on their website. Of that number, 61 of them are fully established as at April 2024. There are also some specialized state universities. They include the underlisted:
State Universities of Technology(13):
- Cross River State University of Technology, Calabar
- Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu
- Delta University of Science and Technology, Ozoro
- Kano University of Science & Technology, Wudil
- Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa
- Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology Ikere, Ekiti State
- Oyo State Technical University Ibadan
- Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero
- Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
- Lagos State University of Science and Technology Ikorodu
- Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology Abeokuta
- Confluence University of Science and Technology Osara, Kogi
- Gombe State University of Science and Technology
State University of Agriculture (1) :
University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuagwo, Imo State
State Universities of Medical Science (4):
- Ondo State University of Medical Sciences
- Bayelsa Medical University
- King David Umahi University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State
- State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Igbo-Eno (SUMAS)
For a comprehensive list of all state universities in Nigeria as of April 2024, please check the NUC site.
State Universities in Nigeria: 2024 Rankings
Now above all, which ones are the best state universities in Nigeria as of 2024? We have extracted authoritative findings from the famous Times Higher Education (THE) website in its latest world universities rankings (as of April 2024). Placing sub-Saharan and global rankings side by side, we have obtained the top 10 state universities in Nigeria in 2024. They are presented below, in order of descending rankings.
University of Cross River State
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 37th / Overall 54.2
Gombe State University, Tudun Wada
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 51-60th / Overall 46-48.7
Lagos State University, Ojo
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 51-60th / Overall 46-48.7
Delta State University, Abraka
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 61-70th / Overall 42.6-45.8
Abia State University, Uturu
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 71+th / Overall 23.3-42.4
Bauchi State University, Gadau
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 71+th / Overall 23.3-42.4
Edo State University, Uzairue
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 71+th / Overall 23.3-42.4
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 71+th / Overall 23.3-42.4
Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano
- THE World university Rankings: Sub-Saharan 71+th / Overall 23.3-42.4
Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden
- THE World university Rankings: Not available
