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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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