309 Universities and 879 New Programmes: NUC Reshapes Nigerian Tertiary Education

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved 33 new universities across Nigeria in 2025, bringing the total number of universities in the country to 309.

Data obtained from the commission shows that 20 private universities were granted operational licences within the year, while the Federal Government established seven new institutions. State governments account for 67 universities nationwide.

The newly established federal universities are located in Rivers, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Zamfara states.

Among them are:

Federal University of Environment and Technology, Tai Town, Rivers State

Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State

Federal University of Agriculture and Developmental Studies, Iragbiji, Osun State

Federal University of Technology and Environmental Studies, Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State

Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho, Oyo State.

At the state level, Niger, Benue, Cross River, and Imo state each established one new university, while Ebonyi State set up two.

Some of the newly created state universities include:

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

Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe

Cross River University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa

Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh

With 168 institutions, private universities remain the largest category within Nigeria’s university system, followed by 74 federal universities and 67 state-owned institutions.

Among the newly licensed private universities are:

Leadership University, Abuja

Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin, Kwara State

Bridget University, Mbaise, Imo State

Greenland University, Jalingo, Taraba State

JEFAP University, Suleja, Niger State

Azione Verde University, Amaigbo, Imo State

Unique Open University, Ojo, Lagos State

Six of the new private universities are located across Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, and Imo State, with two institutions each. Ogun and Kwara states host three each, while others are spread across Ondo, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, and Taraba states.

879 New Programmes Introduced Under CCMAS

In January 2026, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Abdullahi Ribadu, disclosed that more than 879 new academic programmes were introduced in Nigerian universities in 2025.

The development follows the implementation of the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), a framework designed to reform and modernise the Nigerian University System.

According to Ribadu, the CCMAS framework allocates 70 per cent to core academic content and 30 per cent to university-specific content, allowing institutions greater flexibility in curriculum development.

He explained that the new programmes incorporate 21st-century competencies such as digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving skills, with emphasis varying across disciplines.

The reform, he said, is aimed at repositioning Nigerian universities to produce globally competitive graduates and strengthen the country’s higher education system.