12 Best Private Universities in Nigeria in 2023

Looking for the best private universities in Nigeria to study in? Here’s an article for you.

Nigeria is one of the best destinations in the world to study abroad. It offers a wide range of cultural opportunities and whatever your interests are, be sure to find them in Nigeria.

Also, the country offers top-quality education although some Nigerian students flock the public universities. This is usually a result of a financial challenge as most students from wealthy homes grab every opportunity to be in some of the best private universities in Nigeria.

So, if you’re looking to study at a private university in Nigeria, you should go for the best. We will be listing the 12 best private universities in Nigeria in 2023 to help you decide on which of the universities to go for.

Nigeria

Famously known as the giant of Africa, Nigeria is a vast and distinct coy try in Western Africa. It promotes the culture of Africa and offers experiences in the customs and traditions of up to 500 distinct ethnic groups that the country is home to.

Also, the country offers a broad range of cultural opportunities. The country is home to world-renowned writers and novelists as well as soccer players. Nigeria is a colorful country made up of great opportunities for both local and international students.

Aside from the world-class education, you gain as an international, you have ample volunteer opportunities, beautiful places to see as well as their food which mostly revolves around culture. Nigeria is a great place to be in, read further to understand more reasons you should study in Nigeria.

Read: 5 Best Universities in New Zealand for International Students in 2023

Why You Should Study in Nigeria

Academic Life

The country is regarded as the educational hub of Africa as it offers top-quality education and is home to quite a great number of universities in every discipline some of which include medicine, health, arts and humanities, law, and engineering.

Language

Nigeria is a very interesting country with so much diversity. There are over 500 different languages in the country even though English is the country’s official language. That means classes are taught in the English language too.

Housing

Housing can be quite very affordable in Nigeria. You could decide to stay with a family or in a dormitory or an apartment if you’re studying in one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Housing is never a problem in Nigeria, especially for students.

Social Life and Student Culture

There are lots of social activities in Nigeria most well-suited for students. There are arts, music, fashion, gaming, and every other social and fun scene you can ever think of.

Also, there are quite a great number of clubs in the country’s largest cities with great African hip-hop music. Meanwhile, you can also find and hear indigenous and traditional music in the rural parts of the country. You can also find soul and jazz in the country.

Places

Studying in Nigeria allows you quite some beautiful places to see. Every state in the country has many of them and transportation is never a problem. If you are a traveler who loves to see beautiful places and take photographs, Nigeria is the perfect place for you. Here are some of the places you could visit/see:

Yankari National Park: In addition to a herd of over 500 elephants, this park contains more than 400 different species of exotic animals. On your visit, try to spot a hyena, buffalo, or leopard!
Osun Sacred Forest: This UNESCO World Heritage Site in one of Nigeria’s rainforests contains many traditional Nigerian sculptures, including a large shrine to the Nigerian River Goddess.

In this article, we will be using the latest Webometrics Ranking of World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings to give you our list of the 12 best private universities in Nigeria.

Webometrics Ranking of World Universities covers over 28,000 universities and other higher education institutions in the world. Their rankings are primarily based on the volume and quality of the content each university publishes on the web.

Meanwhile, the Times Higher Education Ranking employs thirteen standardized performance indicators to rank universities worldwide. These performance pointers are classified into five areas:

• Teaching (the learning environment);
• Research (volume, income, and reputation);
• Citations (research influence);
• International outlook (staff, students, and research); and
• Industry Income (knowledge transfer).
• What is the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities?

12 Best Private Universities in Nigeria

Covenant University

Covenant University is one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It was established in 2002 by the Living Faith Church and also, it is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The University acquired its license on February 12th, 2002 and by October 21st of the same year, it opened officially.

This university is the only Nigerian university in the top 500 universities in the world – according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

Also, the school was ranked as the best University in Nigeria by Webometric in 2015. It is known for its strict Christian values, academic excellence, publication as well as a conducive learning environment.

Being an academic home to about 15,000 students and about 1000 administrative staff, the school currently runs a collegiate system and it has four colleges which are:

• College of Leadership Development Studies (CLDS)
• College of Engineering (COE)
• CBSS
• College of Science and Technology (CST)

The school provides studying opportunities for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It has innovative technologies in its training programs and students who study at this university have it easy with employment after graduation.

Babcock University

Babcock University is also one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It is set in Ogun state and is a part of the Seventh-Day Activist education system which is the second-largest Christian school system in the world.

The University has nine schools and one college. The schools include the following:

• Agriculture & Industrial Technology
• School of Law & Security Studies
• College of Health & Medical Sciences School of Basic & Applied Science (formerly known as Science & Technology)
• School of Computing & Engineering Sciences
• School of Education and Humanities
• Babcock Business School
• School of Nursing, School of Public & Applied Health
• School of Postgraduate Studies.

The school is an academic home to over 10,000 students and it offers education opportunities at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Joseph Ayo Babalola University

This University was established in Ikeji, Arakelji, Osun state in 2004 by the Christ Apostolic Church(CAC). It is one of the best private universities in Nigeria and it is primarily aimed at promoting the tendency for the formation of entrepreneurship in the country. Also, the university was named after the first spiritual leader of Christ Apostolic Church, Joseph Ayo Babalola.

It consists of various colleges and they include:

• Law
• Environmental Sciences
• Natural Science
• Management Science

Also, read: 20 Top Cheapest Universities in Europe in 2023

Bowen University

Bowen University is also another one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It is set in Osun state and it offers academic opportunities both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels with its faculties

Bowen University is in Iwo, Osun State, and is a private university belonging to the first church in Nigeria. It has five faculties and one college and they include the following:

• Faculty of Agriculture
• Faculty of Humanities
• College of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Science and Science Education
• Faculty of Social and Management Science.

This University is an academic home to over 5000 students. However, it has a student carrying capacity of up to 20,000 students and it has some of the best lecturers in the country.

Redeemer’s University Nigeria

The Redeemer’s University of Nigeria was established in 2005 by the Redeemed Christian Church of God. It is set in Ede, off Gbongan-Oshogbo Road, Osun State, Nigeria in 2005 and it is also one of the best private universities in Nigeria.

The school is an academic home to over 2,000 students and it offers academic opportunities at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Also, it runs a collegiate system and consists of three colleges namely:

• College of Natural Science
• College of Management Science
• The College of Humanities

Igbinedion University Okada

The Igbinedion University Okada is also one of the best private universities In Nigeria. It was established in 1999 in Edo state. Also, the university doubles as the first private university in the country as well as the first private university to produce medical doctors in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Also, the university was the first private university to produce the first graduate in 2006 to obtain the first class at the Nigerian Law School.

The University has a student capacity of 5000 students and it offers academic opportunities at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the following courses:

• Law
• Medicine
• Natural and Applied Sciences
• Business and Management Studies
• Pharmacy
• Engineering
• Arts
• Social Sciences

American University Of Nigeria

The American University of Nigeria was founded in Yola, Adamawa state, by one of the top past leaders of the country, Atiku Abubakar. It is an Association of American International Colleges and Universities (AAICU) member.

The University was founded with the sole aim of creating a Nigerian version of the American University, Washington DC. It is said to be one of the two Sub-Saharan African universities to be an American-style university – that is, employing America’s curriculum, teaching techniques as well as accreditation standards. The first was the American University of Cairo.

This University has three schools and they are:

• School of Arts and Sciences
• School of Business and Entrepreneurship
• And the School of Information Technology and Communications.

Also, it has Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana as its partner. According to Webometrics, the university is the thirty-first university in Nigeria and the second-best privately owned in Nigeria.

First Technical University

The First Technical University is one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It officially opened in Ibadan in 2017 with a vision to be a world-class university wholly rooted in entrepreneurial practices, innovation, and sustainability science. When the university first opened, it had only three faculties which were:

• Engineering
• Technology
• Natural Sciences

Now, the university consists of 15 academic programs licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and below are some of these programs:

• Mechatronics Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Food Science and Technology
• Cyber Security
• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Physics with Electronics
• Petroleum Engineering
• Industrial Chemistry
• Statistics.

According to Webometrics, this university is the h best private university in Nigeria.

Bells University OF Technology

The Bells University of Technology is also another one of the best universities in Nigeria. It was founded in 2004 in Ota, Ogun state, and is owned by one of the top past presidents of the country, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Also, the university doubles as the first university of Technology in Nigeria. It has three colleges:

• College of Engineering & Environmental Sciences
• College of Natural & Applied Sciences
• And the College of Management Sciences.

Also, the school offers academic opportunities at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Afe Babalola University

The Afe Babalola University is one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It was founded in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state by Afe Babalola, a renowned Lawyer, in 2009 as a non-profit private university.

The University runs a collegiate system and it consists of the following fields:

• College of Engineering
• College of Sciences
• Law
• College of Medicine and Health Sciences
• College of Social and Management Sciences

Also, the school offers academic opportunities both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Also, it enrolls students for both pre-degree and degree studies.

Landmark University

Landmark University is another one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It was established in Omu-Aran, Kwara state, by the Living Faith Church World Wide and is primarily focused on acting as a catalyst for an agricultural revolution in the country.

The University is authorized by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and it offers academic opportunities at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the following:

• Colleges of Agricultural Sciences
• Sciences and Engineering
• Business and Social Sciences

Ajayi Crowther University  

Ajayi Crowther University is another one of the best private universities in Nigeria. It was founded in Oyo, Oyo State in 2005 by the Supra Diocesan Board(West) of the Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion). Also, the university is named after the late Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African Bishop who first translated the Bible into the Yoruba language – one of the major languages in the country.

Below are the courses the university offers:

• Accountancy /Finance /Accounting
• Actuarial Science
• Banking and Finance
• Biochemistry try
• Business Administration
• Chemistry
• Christian Studies
• Computer Science.

Read Also: 11 Cheapest Universities in Europe to Study Abroad (Almost Free) – 2023 {Updated}

How Do Private Universities in Nigeria Differ From Public Universities?

Private universities in Nigeria differ from public universities in several aspects. Firstly, private universities are typically owned and managed by private individuals, religious organizations, or corporate bodies, whereas public universities are funded and run by the government. This fundamental difference in ownership often impacts the management, governance, and funding structure of the institutions.

Secondly, private universities have more flexibility in setting their admission requirements and academic programs than public universities, which often follow strict government regulations. Private universities can offer specialized and niche programs that align with industry demands and provide a more tailored educational experience.

Furthermore, private universities in Nigeria usually have smaller class sizes, allowing for more personalized attention and interaction between students and faculty. This can enhance the learning experience and facilitate closer mentorship relationships.

However, one significant distinguishing factor is the cost of education. Private universities generally have higher tuition fees compared to public universities. The increased cost is attributed to the limited government funding and the need for private universities to be self-sustaining.

Overall, while public universities focus on providing affordable education to a larger population, private universities strive to offer quality education with a greater emphasis on individualized attention, specialized programs, and a more flexible academic environment.

FAQs

Conclusion

Private schools in Nigeria are some of the best in Africa and if you’ve been wanting to study in Nigeria, here’s a great list to begin with.

References

• myschoolgist.com – List of Private Universities in Nigeria & Courses Offered
• nuc.edu.ng – Private universities in Nigeria
• 4icu.org – Top Private Universities in Nigeria
• justschoolnews.com – List of Private Universities in Nigeria and their School Fees

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