₦airaland Forum

Nigeria: Recognized Universities Increase to 309 as FG Approves 33 New Institutions

Posted on August 5, 2026 by Biodun Emmanuel

Nigeria’s higher education sector has expanded significantly following the approval of 33 new universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC), bringing the total number of licensed universities in the country to 309.

The newly approved institutions comprise seven federal universities, six state-owned universities, and 20 private universities. The expansion is aimed at increasing access to tertiary education, addressing admission shortages, and promoting specialized learning across the country’s geopolitical zones.

The seven new federal universities are:

– Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni (Rivers State)

– Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji (Osun State)

– Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti (Ekiti State)

– Federal University of Health Sciences, Kachia (Kaduna State)

– Federal University of Education, Osiele (Ogun State)

– Federal University of Science and Technology, Eruwa (Oyo State)

– Federal University of Health Sciences, Tsafe (Zamfara State)

The six newly established state universities are:

– Abdulsalam Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Action, Mokwa (Niger State)

– Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh

– Cross River University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa

– Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe

– University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Ezza (Ebonyi State)

– University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma (Imo State)

The 20 newly licensed private universities include:

– Leadership University, Abuja

– Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin

– Bridget University, Mbaise

– Greenland University, Jalingo

– JEFAP University, Suleja

– Azione Verde University, Amaigbo

– Unique Open University, Ojo

– American Open University, Abeokuta

– Tazkiyah University, Kaduna

– Lens University, Ilemona

– Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo

– Southern Atlantic University, Uyo

– University of Fortune, Igbotako

– Minaret University, Ikirun

– Eranova University, Mabushi, Abuja

– Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos

– Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota

– Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City

– City University, Ayetoro

– New City University, Ayetoro

The expansion comes amid growing demand for university education in Nigeria, where hundreds of thousands of qualified candidates fail to secure admission each year due to limited spaces in existing institutions.

While stakeholders have welcomed the increase in the number of universities, education experts stress that expanding access must be accompanied by sustained investment in infrastructure, funding, research, academic staffing, and quality assurance. They caution that without addressing these longstanding challenges, the proliferation of institutions may not necessarily lead to better educational outcomes.

With 309 licensed universities, Nigeria now boasts one of Africa’s largest higher education systems. However, analysts argue that the true measure of success will depend on the ability of both new and existing institutions to produce graduates equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, and innovative capacity needed to support national development and economic growth.

The Federal Government said the approval of the new federal, state, and private universities is intended to create more admission opportunities and improve access to quality higher education nationwide.

In addition, the NUC approved 879 new academic programmes under the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). The reforms introduce a 70:30 curriculum structure, with 70 percent dedicated to nationally prescribed core content and 30 percent allowing institutions to develop programmes that reflect their unique strengths and priorities.

The updated curriculum also places greater emphasis on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and emerging fields such as aeronautics, environmental studies, and health sciences to better prepare graduates for the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.

https://mina.ng/nigeria-recognized-universities-increase-to-309-as-fg-approves-33-new-institutions/

Everywhere you go university, yet sapele does not have one

Old news being recycled

duduade:
Old news being recycled

In that case, I comment my reserve.

Emilokan, the gods have rejected you.

309 universities is the headline; the number that decides whether this works is one nobody is publishing: how many PhD-qualified lecturers Nigeria produces per year.

You can build a campus in eighteen months and license it in one. You cannot manufacture a professor in less than a decade, and each new institution needs dozens across every department it opens. When supply of qualified academics is fixed and demand for them suddenly rises by 33 institutions plus 879 new programmes, the staff don't appear from nowhere. They get poached from existing universities, or the same person is listed at three places at once, or the standard quietly drops. That's not a Nigerian phenomenon, it's what happened everywhere higher education expanded faster than its own academic pipeline, from Britain in the nineties onward.

The other structural point worth making: this is being framed as a fix for the admission shortfall, and 20 of the 33 are private. Private universities don't relieve the JAMB bottleneck for the candidates actually shut out, because the students who miss out on places are overwhelmingly the ones who can't pay private fees. Adding capacity that the excluded population can't afford solves a different problem than the one being described.

The genuinely encouraging item is buried at the end: the CCMAS 70:30 split, leaving institutions 30 percent to build around their own strengths. That's the right structure, and it's the only part of this announcement that could raise quality rather than just capacity. Whether it means anything depends entirely on the accreditation follow-through in three years' time, and accreditation is where these things usually get quiet.

Genuine question for those closer to it than I am: is there any published requirement on staff-student ratios or minimum qualified faculty before these licences convert into first intakes?

They should approve university of ballot snatching for us please, we want to improve in our skills

Hmmm continue, hope they will make the difference or just be among the numbers

Nigeria vs Apc in the mud.

We will make those confused opposition supporters to be frustrated with progress and development news

Biodun556:
– University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Ezza (Ebonyi State)

Well, they have a brand new international airport to use for their studies. Since aeroplanes are not using the airport, it can sure serve students' learning needs. Good one building the airport, Umahi. And kudos to their governor and other governors for building these new unis. Primary and secondary schools and the existing unis be damned.

greatermax77:
They should approve university of ballot snatching for us please, we want to improve in our skills

Have some of you sworn to something not to ever make any sensible comments on topics?

These ones are mad. What's the percentage of efficiency of the ones that exist already? Rather than focus on making the existing ones actually function efficiently rather than like a poultry that they currently operate as, you're busy approving new inefficient universities.

treesun:
Has FG not suspended establishment of new universities, or I am missing something!

That's what I've been wondering about since I saw the thread. I once heard Otitoju and his gang on Journalists Hangout praising FG for the suspension.

Who noticed most of the proposed Federal Universities are in the South West ?
Is this a coincidence or ... ?

Crate job opportunities create factors. All this dull and boring leaders. Where will they work after graduation 🎓. Keke and POS

lordm:
Everywhere you go university, yet sapele does not have one

Sapele ke FUPRE dey warri already
I think one navy school self dey there too

Again? This is too much na, another 33? Soon all street will have University. Na wah oo

What are the main purposes of this approved and new license universities?

Is the ministry of education actually investing in research institute in the universities across the Nation?

It doesn't cost all the technology universities to go into production and start generating more revenue.

For instance, the foundry and workshop unit can forge instruments and tools. Production of automobile parts, domestic equipment and common car brake from coconut shells and fiber.

Hope uzodim.a have successfully taken a university to his hometown omuma, same thing rochas did during his time.. I guess that Bridget university in mbaise belong to the Catholic church

Leepeak:
Sapele ke FUPRE dey warri already
I think one navy school self dey there too

Na wetin de cause issue between urhobo people and real warri pikin be this o.. that warri wey u call now. If dem hear am for ur mouth there war dib start o

Tinubu administration doesn't know what his doing.
May be 7 years ban has expired just like that.
We have people still supporting people toying with their destinies. Same government that celebrated smokes from refinery, now denying it worked.

https://punchng.com/breaking-fg-bans-creation-of-new-tertiary-institutions-for-seven-years/

This is an old news, recycled to sound new.
Nairalanders beware

Just churning out stupid state and federal universities that won't be adequately funded.

Why not focus on adequately funding the ones we already have?

Schools everywhere but no jobs

The country is just funny

Gotocourt:
Emilokan, the gods have rejected you.

....the gods have no interest in political affairs. The choice is yours. A man, one vote. I vote Tinubu.

Biodun556:
Nigeria: Recognized Universities Increase to 309 as FG Approves 33 New Institutions

Posted on August 5, 2026 by Biodun Emmanuel

Nigeria’s higher education sector has expanded significantly following the approval of 33 new universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC), bringing the total number of licensed universities in the country to 309.

The newly approved institutions comprise seven federal universities, six state-owned universities, and 20 private universities. The expansion is aimed at increasing access to tertiary education, addressing admission shortages, and promoting specialized learning across the country’s geopolitical zones.

The seven new federal universities are:

– Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni (Rivers State)

– Federal University of Agriculture and Development Studies, Iragbiji (Osun State)

– Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti (Ekiti State)

– Federal University of Health Sciences, Kachia (Kaduna State)

– Federal University of Education, Osiele (Ogun State)

– Federal University of Science and Technology, Eruwa (Oyo State)

– Federal University of Health Sciences, Tsafe (Zamfara State)

The six newly established state universities are:

– Abdulsalam Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Action, Mokwa (Niger State)

– Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh

– Cross River University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa

– Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe

– University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Ezza (Ebonyi State)

– University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma (Imo State)

The 20 newly licensed private universities include:

– Leadership University, Abuja

– Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin

– Bridget University, Mbaise

– Greenland University, Jalingo

– JEFAP University, Suleja

– Azione Verde University, Amaigbo

– Unique Open University, Ojo

– American Open University, Abeokuta

– Tazkiyah University, Kaduna

– Lens University, Ilemona

– Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo

– Southern Atlantic University, Uyo

– University of Fortune, Igbotako

– Minaret University, Ikirun

– Eranova University, Mabushi, Abuja

– Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos

– Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota

– Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City

– City University, Ayetoro

– New City University, Ayetoro

The expansion comes amid growing demand for university education in Nigeria, where hundreds of thousands of qualified candidates fail to secure admission each year due to limited spaces in existing institutions.

While stakeholders have welcomed the increase in the number of universities, education experts stress that expanding access must be accompanied by sustained investment in infrastructure, funding, research, academic staffing, and quality assurance. They caution that without addressing these longstanding challenges, the proliferation of institutions may not necessarily lead to better educational outcomes.

With 309 licensed universities, Nigeria now boasts one of Africa’s largest higher education systems. However, analysts argue that the true measure of success will depend on the ability of both new and existing institutions to produce graduates equipped with the knowledge, practical skills, and innovative capacity needed to support national development and economic growth.

The Federal Government said the approval of the new federal, state, and private universities is intended to create more admission opportunities and improve access to quality higher education nationwide.

In addition, the NUC approved 879 new academic programmes under the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). The reforms introduce a 70:30 curriculum structure, with 70 percent dedicated to nationally prescribed core content and 30 percent allowing institutions to develop programmes that reflect their unique strengths and priorities.

The updated curriculum also places greater emphasis on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and emerging fields such as aeronautics, environmental studies, and health sciences to better prepare graduates for the demands of a rapidly evolving global economy.

https://mina.ng/nigeria-recognized-universities-increase-to-309-as-fg-approves-33-new-institutions/

Many are MUSHROOM universities.

Schools that are in their second year already...

duduade:
Old news being recycled

greatermax77:
They should approve university of ballot snatching for us please, we want to improve in our skills

Or universities you'd graduate from four years before it will be established.

[quote author=AlbertNewton post=140339847]Who noticed most of the proposed Federal Universities are in the South West ?
Is this a coincidence or ... ?


Don't mind the bigoted federal government of YORUBACRACY!!🙆‍♀️😭😤😡

So Tinubu is truly from Iragbiji