Data from the website of the National Universities Commission, the regulatory body for universities in Nigeria, revealed that there are currently 147 private universities spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of the federation.
As the demand for quality university education rises owing to industrial crises and issues of poor funding in the public tertiary education sub-sector, there seems to be a growing demand for private universities in the country. Between January 1, 2023, and June 27, 2023, the NUC gave provisional licences to 37 private universities. The 147 private universities as approved by the NUC are:
1. Babcock University, Ogun State
2. Madonna University, Anambra State
3. Igbinedion University, Edo State
4. Bowen University, Osun State
5. Benson Idahosa University, Edo state
6. Covenant University, Ogun state
7. Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos State
8. American University of Nigeria, Adamawa State
9. Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State
10. Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State
11. AI-Qalam University, Katsina, Katsina State
12. Bells University of Technology, Otta, Ogun State
13. Bingham University, New-Karu, Nasarawa State
14. Caritas University, Enugu, Enugu State
15. Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State
16. Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State
17. Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State
18. Kwararafa University, Wukari, Taraba State
19. Redeemer’s University, Mowe, Ogun State
20. Renaissance University, Enugu, Enugu State
21. University of Mkar, Mkar, Benue State
22. Novena University, Ogume, Delta State
23. Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State
24. Veritas University, Abuja, FCT
25. Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State
26. African University of Science & Technology, Abuja
27. Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State
28. Fountain University, Oshogbo, Osun State
29. Obong University, Obong Ntak, Akwa Ibom State
30. Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State
31. Wesley University of Science & Technology, Ondo State
32. Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State
33. Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State
34. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti – Ekiti State
35. Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike, Enugu State
36. Nigerian-Turkish Nile University, FCT Abuja
37. Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State
38. Paul University, Awka, Anambra State
39. Rhema University, Obama-Asa, Rivers State
40 Wellspring University, Evbuobanosa, Edo State
41. Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
42. Baze University, FCT Abuja
43. Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State
44. Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State
45. McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo, Ogun State
46. Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State
47. Southwestern University, Oku Owa, Ogun State
48. Evangel University, Ebonyi State
49. Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
50. Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State
51. Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State
52. Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State
53. Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State
54. Kings University Ode-Omu, Osun State
55. Michael & Cecilia Ibru University, Owhode, Delta State
56. Mountain Top University, Makogi/Oba, Ogun State
57. Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwalbom State
58. Summit University, Offa, Kwara State
59. Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State
60. Hezekiah University, Umudi, Imo State
61. Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State
62. Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
63. Clifford University, Abia State
64. Coal City University, Enugu state
65. Ojaja University, Ilorin, Kwara state
66. Dominican University, Ibadan, Oyo State
67. Kola Daisi University., Ibadan, Oyo State
68. Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State
69. Spiritan University, Neochi, Abia State
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70. Precious Cornerstone, Ibadan, Oyo State
71. PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
72. Atiba University, Oyo, Oyo State
73. Eko University of Medical Sciences, Ijanikin, Lagos
74. Skyline University, Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
75. Greenfield University, Kasarami-Kaduna, Kaduna State
76. Dominion University, Ibadan, Oyo State
77. Trinity University, Laloko, Ogun State
78. Westland University, Iwo, Osun State
79. Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa-Ibom State
80. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State
81. Maranatha University, Lekki, Lagos State
82. Ave-Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State
83. AL-Istigama University, Sumaila, Kano State
84. Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State
85. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State
86. Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State
87. Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State
88. Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State
89. James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos state
90. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
91. Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
92. Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State
93. University of Offa, Offa, Kwara State
94. Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State
95. Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State
96. Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
103. Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State
104. Baba-Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State
105. Saisa University Of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto, Sokoto State
106. Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State
107. Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State
108. Newgate University, Minna, Niger State
109. European University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
110. Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
111. Rayhaan University, Kebbi State
112. Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Kwara State
113. Sam Maris University, Supare, Ondo State
114. Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State
115. Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, Abia State
116. Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State
117. Peaceland University, Enugu, Enugu State
118. Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State
119. Vision University, Ikogbo, Ogun State
120. Azman University, Kano, Kano State
121. Huda University, Gusau, Zamfara State
122. Franco British International University, Kaduna, Kaduna State
123. Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
124. Miva Open University, Abuja, FCT
125. Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Imope-ljebu, Ogun State
126. British Canadian University, Obudu, Cross River State
127. Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State
128. Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State
129. Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State
130. Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti State
131. University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State
132. Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano Kano State
133. Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, Ekiti State
134. Shanahan University, Onitsha, Anambra State
135. The Duke Medical University, Calabar, Cross River State
136. Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State
137. Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, FCT
138. Iconic Open University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
139. West Midland Open University, Ibadan, Oyo State
140. Amaj University, Abuja, FCT
141. Prime University, Abuja, FCT
142. El-Amin University, Niger State
143. College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, Kaduna State
144. Jewel University, Gombe, Gombe State
145. Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Apapa, Lagos State
146. Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, FCT
147. Al-Bayan University, Kogi state