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Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment

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Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


Nigeria had her first university as far back as before independence, and since then, the number of universities has continued to grow in Nigeria. Now it’s no longer the business of the government alone but also that of private individuals.

The motivation has always been to meet up with the ever-growing demands for advanced education in the country. So many people especially, the youngsters who are yet to make choices of higher institutions do not really know especially, the youngsters who are yet to make choices of higher institutions do not really know which is which.

It will be very beneficial if they get to know the first universities that were created in this noble country of ours as it is always believed that they boast the best educational facilities, resources, and reputation, even with age

There are a total of 193 universities in Nigeria as of the time of writing this article, the first university in Nigeria can be traced back as far as 1948.

In this article, we have listed the first Top 10 oldest universities in Nigeria, their dates of establishment, admission requirements and also all the NUC accredited courses available.

 

List of the Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


Below are the list of the top 10 oldest universities in Nigeria and their year of establishment and state located are also included:

1. University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo – 1948

2. University of Nigeria, Nsukka – 1955

3. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Efe – 1961

4. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria – 1962

5. The University of Lagos, Lagos state – 1962

6. University of Benin, Edo – 1970

7. University of Maiduguri, Borno – 1975

8. The University of Calabar, Cross River – 1975

9. University of Jos – 1975

10. The University of Ilorin, Kwara State – 1975

Let us study in details 



1. UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN (UI), OYO – 1948

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The University of Ibadan which was founded in 1984 metamorphosed from the Yaba Higher College. The Yaba high college was founded in 1932 in Yaba, Lagos as the first tertiary educational institution in Nigeria. But in 1948, when the need for a University became pressing, the college staff were transferred to start the University of Ibadan as an external college of the University of London, and the college premises were used for the new Yaba College of Technology. Rt. Hon. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first Prime Minister of independent Nigeria was the first Chancellor, while Kenneth Dike was the first Nigerian Vice-chancellor of the university, after whom the University of Ibadan’s library is named. The University’s current Vice Chancellor is Isaac F. Adewole. Despite being the oldest, the University of Ibadan is ranked with the best Nigerian Universities at the moment.

 

2. UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA – 1955

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The University of Nigeria Nsukka is the first indigenous and independent university in Nigeria. Located in Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria, UNN was established in 1955 with a total of four (4) campuses namely; Nsukka, Enugu, Ituku-ozalla, and Aba. The Aba campus serves as a base for the Institute of Nigerian Languages.

UNN began academic activities on 17th December 1960 with a total of 220 students and 13 academic staff to lecture the pioneer students. The origin of the university can be traced back to 18th May 1955 when a law was enacted to establish a university in the eastern region of the country. The premier of the region at that time, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was a pivoted figure in the enactment of this law. 


3. OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-EFE – 1961

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


Obafemi Awolowo University which was founded in 1962 as the University of Ife was the brainchild of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12th May 1987. The decision to establish this institution was in response to the agitations of the Westerners on the need for a higher institution that will cater for the education of their numerous secondary school leavers at that time.

The cause of the agitation was the plan of the then Ashby Commission to establish additional Universities in the Northern and eastern Nigeria without putting the west into consideration. On 8 June 1961, the Law providing for the establishment of the Provisional Council for the University was passed by the Legislature of the Western Region and on the 26th of the same month, Provisional Council of the University was formally inaugurated under the chairmanship of Chief Rotimi Williams. OAU is also one of the highly recommended Universities in Nigeria.

 

4. AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA – 1962

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The School of Arabic Studies in Kano was the starting point of the Ahmadu Bello University. The school was upgraded by the Northern region to become Ahmadu Bello University for Arabic and Islamic Studies, named after the region’s dominant political leader, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello. This was prior to the implementation of the plans in the Ashby Commission Report, to create additional universities to meet the academic needs of the country.

However, the Ashby Commission report recommendations offered better direction, and it was ultimately decided to create a University of Northern Nigeria at Zaria (rather than Kano). The university took over the facilities of the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology at Samaru just outside Zaria, and incorporated the Ahmadu Bello College in Kano, the Agricultural Research Institute at Samaru, the Institute of Administration at Zaria, and the Veterinary Research Institute at Vom on the Jos Plateau. The law establishing the new university was passed by the Northern Region legislature in 1961. It was decided to name the university after Ahmadu Bello.

 


5. UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, LAGOS STATE – 1962

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


Number five (5) on our list of the oldest universities in Nigeria is the University of Lagos. UNILAG, as it is fondly called was established in 1962, two years after Nigeria’s independence, the university has one of the highest enrolments in the country, having enrolled over 57,000 students since established.

The university has two (2) campuses with the main campus located in Akoka and the medical campus located in Idi-Araba, Lagos State. The university has a total of 13 facilities and currently offers undergraduate programs, post-graduate & distance learning programs to its students. UNILAG notable alumni include; Akinwunmi Ambode, Wale Adenuga, Funke Akindele, and many more.

 

6. UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, EDO – 1970

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The University of Benin, located in Benin city, Edo state, was founded in 1970. It started as an Institute of Technology and was accorded the status of a full-fledged University by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on 1 July 1971. In his Budget Speech in April 1972, the then Military Governor of Mid-Western State, Col. S. O. Ogbemudia, (then also Visitor to the University) formally announced the change of the name of the Institute of Technology to the University of Benin. On 1 April 1975, the University at the request of the State Government was taken over by the Federal Government and became a Federal University. Today, the University of Benin has one of the best colleges of Medicine in Nigeria.

 

7. UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI, BORNO – 1975

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The University of Maiduguri, UNIMAID as it is fondly called was established in 1975 by the Nigerian federal government. Located in Borno State Nigeria, The University of Maiduguri currently boasts of an estimated student population of around 36,500 students spread across its 12 faculties. 

 

8. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, CROSS RIVER – 1975

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The University of Calabar is one of Nigeria’s second generation universities. The University was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. The male students are known as Malabites, while the female students are Malabresses. The male hostel is called Malabo. This was as a result of challenges faced by the students at a time which coincided with the suffering experienced in Malabo by Nigerian deportees from Equatorial Guinea (whose capital is Malabo) at the time. The University of Calabar was one of the foremost Nigerian Universities to automate students’ registration processes through the College Portal. The school is located in Calabar city, the capital of Cross River state.

 

9. UNIVERSITY OF JOS – 1975

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The University of Jos, UNIJOS was first established as a satellite campus of the University of Ibadan in November 1971. UNIJOS is located in Jos, Plateau State Nigeria. The then military government under General Murtala Mohhamed established UNIJOS as a full-fledged university in October 1975.

Lectures began fully in October 1976, exactly one year after, with 575 students spread across its four (4) faculties. UNIJOS currently boasts of an estimated student population of about 30,000 with 14 faculties. 

 

10. THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, KWARA STATE – 1975

Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment


The University of Ilorin was initially a University College affiliated to the oldest university in Nigeria in 1975 under the leadership of the then principal, Dr T.N. Tamuno. But in 1975, the military government which was in power passed a decree that saw to the establishment of the University. Subsequently, in October 1977, the institution attained full autonomous status with the appointment of the then Principal, Professor O.O Akinkugbe as first vice-chancellor. The immediate past vice chancellor, Professor Is-haq Oloyede is the first Unilorin alumnus to occupy that position. The staff and student populations now stand at about 3,040 and 20,084 respectively. The institution is one of the universities in Nigeria that top the list of best Nigerian Universities.

 


Conclusion on Top 10 Oldest Universities in Nigeria and their Dates of Establishment

In this article, we listed the top 10 oldest universities in Nigeria and some good information for prospective students. In this article, we have listed the first Top 10 oldest universities in Nigeria, their dates of establishment, admission requirements and also all the NUC accredited courses available.

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