As of January 2026, Nigeria's private higher education sector has reached a historic milestone. Now that there are 147 licensed private universities in Nigeria, the race for academic excellence has really stepped up.
It’s not just about having the best facilities anymore; it’s all about getting those global research citations and making a mark in interdisciplinary science.
Nigeria offers a diverse range of private universities for higher education. However, both public and private institutions are under the same oversight, regulation, and accreditation.
So, whether you choose a federally funded university, a state-funded one, or a private school, you can expect a similar quality of education.
Nigeria has got 147 private universities that are approved by the National University Commission.
Here's the full list of the 147 private universities in Nigeria, along with the cities and states where you can find them.
Source: this info comes from the NUC official directory and a recent licensing update.
The Comprehensive List of Private Universities in Nigeria and Their Respective States
1.
AI-Qalam University, Katsina, Katina State
2. Bells University of Technology, Otta, Ogun State
3. Bingham University, New-Karu, Nasarawa State
4. Caritas University, Enugu, Enugu State
5. Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State
6. Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State
7. Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State
8. Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State
9. Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State
10. Renaissance University, Enugu, Enugu State
11.
Babcock University, Ogun State
12. Madonna University, Anambra State
13. Igbinedion University, Edo State
14.
Bowen University, Osun State
15. Benson Idahosa University, Edo state
16. Covenant University, Ogun state
17. Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos State
18. American University of Nigeria, Adamawa State
19. Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State
20. Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State
21.
Wesley University of Science & Technology, Ondo State
22. Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State
23. Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State
24. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti – Ekiti State
25. Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike, Enugu State
26. Nigerian-Turkish Nile University, FCT Abuja
27. Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State
28. Paul University, Awka, Anambra State
29. Rhema University, Obama-Asa, Rivers State
30 Wellspring University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State
31.
University of Mkar, Mkar, Benue State
32. Novena University, Ogume, Delta State
33. Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State
34. Veritas University, Abuja, FCT
35.
Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State
36. African University of Science & Technology, Abuja
37. Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State
38. Fountain University, Oshogbo, Osun State
39. Obong University, Obong Ntak, Akwa Ibom State
40. Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State
41.
Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State
42. Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State
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43.
Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State
44. Kings University Ode-Omu, Osun State
45. Michael & Cecilia Ibru University, Owhode, Delta State
46. Mountain Top University, Makogi/Oba, Ogun State
47. Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwalbom State
48. Summit University, Offa, Kwara State
49. Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State
50. Hezekiah University, Umudi, Imo State
51.
Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
52. Baze University, FCT Abuja
53. Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State
54. Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega
University), Ogwa, Edo State
55. McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo, Ogun State
56.
Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State
57. Southwestern University, Oku Owa, Ogun State
58. Evangel University, Ebonyi State
59. Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
60. Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State
61.
PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
62. Atiba University, Oyo, Oyo State
63. Eko University of Medical Sciences,
Ijanikin, Lagos
64.
Skyline University, Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
65. Greenfield University, Kasarami-Kaduna, Kaduna State
66. Dominion University, Ibadan, Oyo State
67. Trinity University, Laloko, Ogun State
68. Westland University, Iwo, Osun State
69. Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa-Ibom State
70. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State
71.
Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State
72. Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
73. Clifford University, Abia State
74. Coal City University, Enugu state
75. Ojaja University, Ilorin, Kwara state
76. Dominican University, Ibadan, Oyo State
77.
Kola Daisi University., Ibadan, Oyo State
78. Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State
79. Spiritan University, Neochi, Abia State
80. Precious Cornerstone, Ibadan, Oyo State
81.
Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
82. Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State
83. University of Offa, Offa, Kwara State
84. Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State
85.
Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State
86. Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
87. Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State
88. ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State
89. Pen Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State
90. Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno
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91.
Maranatha University, Lekki, Lagos State
92. Ave-Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State
93. AL-Istigama University, Sumaila, Kano State
94. Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State
95. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State
96. Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State
97. Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State
98.
Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State
99. James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos state
100. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano
State
101.
Rayhaan University, Kebbi State
102. Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Kwara State
103. Sam Maris University, Supare, Ondo State
104. Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State
105. Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, Abia State
106.
Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State
107. Peaceland University, Enugu, Enugu State
108. Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State
109. Vision University, Ikogbo, Ogun State
110. Azman University, Kano, Kano State
111. Margaret Lawrence
University, Galilee, Delta State
112.
Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State
113. Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State
114. Baba-Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State
115. Saisa University Of Medical Sciences and Technology,
Sokoto, Sokoto State
116. Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State
117. Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State
118. Newgate University, Minna, Niger State
119.
European University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
120. Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
121.
University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State
122. Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano Kano State
123. Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, Ekiti State
124. Shanahan University, Onitsha, Anambra State
125. The Duke Medical University, Calabar, Cross River State
126. Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State
127.
Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, FCT
128. Iconic Open University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
129. West Midland Open University, Ibadan, Oyo State
130. Amaj University, Abuja, FCT
131.
Prime University, Abuja, FCT
132. El-Amin University, Niger State
133. College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, Kaduna
State
134.
Jewel University, Gombe, Gombe State
135. Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Apapa,
Lagos State
136. Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, FCT
137. Al-Bayan University, Kogi state
138.
Huda University, Gusau, Zamfara State
139. Franco British International University, Kaduna, Kaduna
State
140.
Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
141. Miva Open University, Abuja, FCT
142. Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Imope-ljebu, Ogun
State
143. British Canadian University, Obudu, Cross River State
144. Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State
145. Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State
146. Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State
147. Hillside University of Science and
Technology, Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti State
Conclusion
It’s great to see that more parents are starting to warm up to the idea of sending their kids to private universities. Private Universities in Nigeria often offer a better experience than state universities and can be a more affordable option than studying abroad.
There are a lot of great reasons to consider attending a private university that are definitely worth thinking about. Private universities are run by individuals, firms, or groups, but they still have to follow government regulations, which means they’re subject to government policies.
Tuition fees that students pay usually depend on the course they're taking. Most of these colleges are considered the best because they really focus on delivering a high-quality education.
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