Top 5 Oldest Universities in Nigeria

Higher education sector in Nigeria is one that is held in high esteem by the average Nigerian home. For many, it is the easiest way out of poverty, as graduating with a good grade would most often guarantee access to getting a good paying job. The higher education sector in Nigeria comprises universities, polytechnics and different institutes.

The history of university education in Nigeria can be traced to the Elliot Commission of 1943, which culminated in the establishment of University College, Ibadan in 1948. However, as Nigeria approached independence on October 1, 1960, it had the University of Ibadan, as the only university. The important Ashby Commission report (submitted a month before independence) recommended adding new universities in each of Nigeria’s then-three regions, as well as the capital, Lagos. Five of these universities were established between 1948 and 1965, following a joint agreement between leaders of the different regions of the Nigerian Colony and the British Colonial Government.

The universities were established primarily to meet a need for qualified personnel in Nigeria and to set basic standards for university education. The oil boom years of the 1970s influenced the tertiary level of education to reach every sub-region of Nigeria.Today, there are almost 170 universities today both private and government-owned universities in Nigeria.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) is the major accreditation and regulatory body that enforces uniform standard and sets admissions capacity of every university in Nigeria

First Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

Yaba College founded in 1932 in Yaba, Lagos, was the first tertiary educational institute in Nigeria. It focused primarily on providing post-secondary vocational education and teacher training to Africans.

Let’s take a dive into the top 10 oldest universities in Nigeria, year they were founded and popular past students of these institutions. All universities on the list were founded between the 40s and 70s.More so, they are owned and controlled by the government.

University of Ibadan (1948)

The university was founded in 1948 as University College Ibadan, one of many colleges within the University of London. It became an independent university in 1963 and is the oldest degree-awarding institution in Nigeria. It was formed when staff and students from Yaba Higher College were transferred to Ibadan to form the new University College Ibadan in 1948.

Hon. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first Prime Minister of independent Nigeria, was its first Chancellor while the first Nigerian vice-chancellor of the university was Kenneth Dike, after whom the university library is named. English man Kenneth Mellanby was the University’s first chancellor called ‘principal’ as a university college (1947 – 1953). Mellanby Hall, the university’s first student hall of residence, is named after him.

At the time of its establishment as University College Ibadan, students were awarded degrees from the University of London. However, after it became autonomous in 1963, University of Ibadan started awarding its own degrees in 1967. The university started off with programmes in Arts and Medical sciences but is currently made up of 92 academic departments organised into 17 faculties.

Prominent Alumni

This prestigious university has educated a lot of notable people in the society ranging from medical doctors, lawyers, nobel laureate in literature, mathematicians, and many more. Examples are Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Abdulganiyu Abdulrasaq,Grace Alele-Williams (first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate), W. F. Kumuyi, J. P. Clark, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Fisayo Soyombo, etc.

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1960)

University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State and was founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955.

Formally opened on 7 October 1960, UNN is the first full-fledged indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria with the power to grant its own degrees, unlike University of Ibadan. It was modelled upon the American educational system. It is the first land-grant university in Africa and one of the five most reputed universities in Nigeria. American lawyer, Dr. George Marion Johnson was its first vice-chancellor (1960 – 1964). Professor Eni Njoku was the first indegenious vice-chancellor (July 1966 – 1967; 1967 – 1970).

First set of classes began on 17 October 1960 with an enrollment of 220 students and 13 members of the academic staff. During the Biafran Era, it was renamed the University of Biafra between 6th July 1967 and 15th January 1970.

The university has four campuses – Nsukka (University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN), Enugu (University of Nigeria Enugu campus, UNEC), Ituku-Ozalla (University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH) and Aba (University of Nigeria Aba campus, UNAC). What became the University of Calabar in October 1977, was one the former campuses of UNN.

It has 15 Faculties and 102 academic departments. The university offers 108 undergraduate programs and 211 postgraduate programmes. The Law Faculty of the university is the oldest in Nigeria; it was established in 1960. It has contributed to legal education in Nigeria and has trained lawyers such as the former vice president; Alex Ekwueme, in law practice.

Prominent alumni

UNN has produced many notable personalities across various industries in Nigeria. These include Alex Ekwueme, Dora Akinyuli, Chimamanda Ngozi-Adiche, Nnamdi Kanu, Obi Cubanna, Peter Obi, Waje, Bobby Ologun, Godwin Emefiele, Kingsley Moghalu, Pat Utomi, Chris Ngige, Oby Ezekwesili, Chris Okotie, Cossy Orjiakor, Herbert Wigwe etc.

Obafemi Awolowo University (1961)

The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, led by late chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12 May 1987 in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was the brain behind the establishment of the school.

On September 22, 1962, the school was opened to 244 pioneer students at its temporary facilities, the previous college of arts and sciences, Ibadan. Oladele Ajose, was nominated as the first Vice-Chancellor of the university and the university began with five faculties:Agriculture, Arts, Economics and Social Studies, Law, and Science. Four years later, Lt-Col Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, the first Military Governor of the Western Region provided resources and ordered the to relocate to the permanent campus situated on a 13,000 acre land donated by the people of Ile-Ife. Its movement to the new campus and present location at Ile-Ife began in January 1967.

Ife started the first Faculty of Pharmacy in West Africa, the first Department of Chemical Engineering and the first Electronics component in addition to Electrical Engineering. The first vice-chancellor of the new university was Professor Oladele Ajose (MD, PhD) a Glasgow University graduate and Nigeria’s first professor of public health recruited from the University of Ibadan.

Prominent Alumni

When you talk about a Nigerian institution that has produced one of the highest numbers of notable people in Nigeria especially in the Political & entertainment industries, then Obafemi Awolowo University stands above others. This list includes but not limited to Femi Otedola, Fela Durotoye, Fireboy, Pastor Enoch Adeboye,Seun Osewa, founder of Nairaland, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, current Governor of Ondo State, Akinwumi Adesina, Babalola Borishade, Oluremi Tinubu, Jimi Agbaje,Yemisi Edun, first female MD/CEO of First City Monument Bank, Ibukun Awosika, Dele Momodu, Femi Falana, Peter Fatomilola, Lai Mohammed,and Olusegun Mimiko.

University of Lagos

The University of Lagos popularly known as UNILAG was founded in 1962 in Yaba, Lagos by an Act of the Federal Parliament. Before the establishment of the University of Lagos in 1962, a teachers’ training college, Trade Center, and Yaba College of Technology were the only institutions in the largest city in the country. It was one of the first five universities created in the country, now known as “first generation universities”.

Eni Njoku was appointed as the first black vice-chancellor of the university in 1962.

UNILAG has one of the largest student populations of any university in the country

Prominent Alumni

Notable University of Lagos alumni include Nigerian television actor Francis Agu, Kayode Fayemi,Ikedi Ohakim, Wale Adenuga, Farida Mzamber Waziri,Seyi Makinde, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Yemi Osinbajo, Omoyele Sowore, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tony Elumelu,Obi Ezekwesil, Denrele Edun,Gbenga Daniel, Chude Jideonwo, Laycon, John Momoh, etc.

Ahmadu Bello University

Ahmadu Bello University Zaria is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the University of Northern Nigeria.

The Government 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 would incorporate 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 university was named after its founder, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria

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.

The university operates two campuses: Samaru (main) and Kongo in Zaria. There is a pre-degree school in Funtua a few kilometres from the main campus owned by the university.

Prominent Alumni

ABU has perhaps the strongest Alumni association among Nigerian Universities, which has influenced their participation in Nigeria’s Political field. The alumni association was founded in the early 1960s by the graduating class which included architect Chief Fola Alade, Chief Lai Balogun and Professor Ayodele Awojobi.Today, the alumni association has branches across the federation with the secretariat at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The alumni association is often represented by the national president of the association in the governing council of the university.

ABU as the rest of the first generation universities has produced lots of prominent personalities, who have gone to make a name for themselves in different sectors especially in politics. These are Sanusi Lamido, Dino Melaye, Jerry Gana, Attahiru Jega, Oladipo Diya, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, Isa Yuguda, Turai Yar’Adua, etc.