ABUJA: The National Universities Commission has approved 33 new universities in Nigeria as part of efforts to expand access to higher education and equip young people with relevant academic and professional skills. According to official figures, Nigeria now has 309 universities in total.
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168 private universities (largest share)
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74 federal universities
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67 state universities
The latest approvals include institutions established by federal and state governments, alongside several privately funded universities spread across multiple states.
The federal government created new universities in states such as Rivers, Kaduna, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Zamfara, while additional universities were also approved by state governments to boost specialised education in areas like agriculture, technology, climate studies and entrepreneurship.
Most of the newly licensed institutions belong to the private sector, reflecting increasing investment in tertiary education by individuals, faith-based organisations and corporate groups seeking to meet rising demand for university placements.
Education stakeholders say the expansion aims to:
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Improve access to university education nationwide
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Promote specialised research and innovation
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Align Nigerian tertiary education with global academic and industry trends
The commission also recently approved new academic programmes for universities to offer from the 2025/2026 academic session, further strengthening curriculum relevance.
With Nigeria’s youth population rising steadily, the creation of new universities is seen as a strategic move to ease admission pressure and widen opportunities for academic and professional development across the country.
