Federal universities in Nigeria are the backbone of the Nigerian higher education learning sector following the nation’s independence from Great Britain in 1960. The first university established in Nigeria was a federal university, the University of Ibadan (UI), which happens to have been established in 1948.
Federal universities in Nigeria have helped in the development of the education sector in Nigeria, providing teachers and lecturers for other higher learning institutions, including polytechnics, colleges of education, and other institutions, and in Nigeria, even to the secondary and primary school levels.
Federal universities in Nigeria are usually held in high esteem in Nigeria because they are always known for their quality, which they do produce using universities like the University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and many more.
Federal universities in Nigeria have produced pioneers that have helped Nigeria as a country by driving the economy forward.
You must be looking for the list of all federal universities in Nigeria, and that is why we will explain them properly in this article plus other details that will be useful to you.
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Why Federal Universities Over State and Local Universities
Federal universities established by the federal government enjoy better funding from the federal government, a high level of infrastructural development, and the best research opportunities, and they also have the best lecturers across the whole country.
Federal universities also enjoy faster accreditation from the National Universities Commission and from other accreditation bodies compared to private universities and state universities, and that is why many value federal universities.
List of All Accredited Federal Universities in Nigeria
| University Name | State | Year Established | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University | Bauchi | 1980 | ATBU |
| Ahmadu Bello University | Kaduna | 1962 | ABU |
| Bayero University | Kano | 1977 | BUK |
| Federal University Gashua | Yobe | 2013 | FUGASHUA |
| Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun | Delta | 2007 | FUPRE |
| Federal University of Technology, Akure | Ondo | 1981 | FUTA |
| Federal University of Technology, Minna | Niger | 1983 | FUTMINNA |
| Federal University of Technology, Owerri | Imo | 1980 | FUTO |
| Federal University Dutse | Jigawa | 2011 | FUD |
| Federal University Dutsin-Ma | Katsina | 2011 | FUDMA |
| Federal University Kashere | Gombe | 2011 | FUKASHERE |
| Federal University Lafia | Nasarawa | 2011 | FULAFIA |
| Federal University Lokoja | Kogi | 2011 | FULOKOJA |
| Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike | Ebonyi | 2011 | AE-FUNAI |
| Federal University Otuoke | Bayelsa | 2011 | FUOTUOKE |
| Federal University Oye-Ekiti | Ekiti | 2011 | FUOYE |
| Federal University Wukari | Taraba | 2011 | FUWUKARI |
| Federal University Birnin Kebbi | Kebbi | 2013 | FUBK |
| Federal University Gusau | Zamfara | 2013 | FUGUS |
| Michael Okpara University of Agriculture | Abia | 1992 | MOUAU |
| Modibbo Adama University | Adamawa | 1981 | MAU |
| National Open University of Nigeria | FCT | 2002 | NOUN |
| Nigeria Police Academy | Kano | 2012 | POLAC |
| Nigerian Defence Academy | Kaduna | 1964 | NDA |
| Nnamdi Azikiwe University | Anambra | 1991 | UNIZIK |
| Obafemi Awolowo University | Osun | 1961 | OAU |
| University of Abuja | FCT | 1988 | UNIABUJA |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta | Ogun | 1988 | FUNAAB |
| Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University | Benue | 1988 | JOSTUM |
| University of Benin | Edo | 1970 | UNIBEN |
| University Name | State | Year Established | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Calabar | Cross River | 1975 | UNICAL |
| University of Ibadan | Oyo | 1948 | UI |
| University of Ilorin | Kwara | 1975 | UNILORIN |
| University of Jos | Plateau | 1975 | UNIJOS |
| University of Lagos | Lagos | 1962 | UNILAG |
| University of Maiduguri | Borno | 1975 | UNIMAID |
| University of Nigeria, Nsukka | Enugu | 1960 | UNN |
| University of Port Harcourt | Rivers | 1975 | UNIPORT |
| University of Uyo | Akwa Ibom | 1991 | UNIUYO |
| Usmanu Danfodiyo University | Sokoto | 1975 | UDUS |
| Nigerian Maritime University | Delta | 2015 | NMU |
| Air Force Institute of Technology | Kaduna | 1977 | AFIT |
| Nigerian Army University | Borno | 2018 | NAUB |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo | Benue | 2021 | FUHSO |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru | Kebbi | 2020 | FUAZ |
| Federal University of Technology, Babura | Jigawa | 2021 | FUTB |
| Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi | Akwa Ibom | 2021 | FUTIA |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare | Bauchi | 2021 | FUHSA |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun | Osun | 2021 | FUHSI |
| David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences | Ebonyi | 2022 | DUFUMS |
| Admiralty University | Delta | 2017 | ADUN |
| Federal University of Transportation | Katsina | 2023 | FUTD |
| African Aviation and Aerospace University | FCT | 2023 | AAAU |
| National University of Science and Technology | FCT | 2023 | NUST |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Bassam-Biri | Bayelsa | 2023 | FUAB |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Kwale | Delta | 2023 | FUHSK |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Katsina | Katsina | 2023 | FUHSKAT |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi | Adamawa | 2024 | FUAM |
| Federal University of Education, Zaria | Kaduna | 2024 | FUE Zaria |
| Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education | Imo | 2024 | AIFUE |
| University Name | State | Year Established | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education | Kano | 2025 | YMSFUE |
| Adeyemi Federal University of Education | Ondo | 2025 | AFUED |
| Federal University of Allied Health Sciences | Enugu | 2025 | FUAHS |
| Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences | Ogun | 2025 | FUMMS |
| Federal University of Education, Pankshin | Plateau | 2025 | FUEP |
| Federal University of Education, Kontagora | Niger | 2025 | FUEK |
| University of Maritime Studies | Akwa Ibom | 2025 | UMS |
| Federal University of Environment and Technology | Rivers | 2025 | FUET |
| Federal University of Applied Sciences | Kaduna | 2025 | FUAS |
| Tai Solarin Federal University of Education | Ogun | 2025 | TASFUE |
| Federal University of Agriculture and Developmental Studies | Osun | 2025 | FUADS |
| Federal University of Technology and Environmental Studies | Ekiti | 2025 | FUTES |
| Federal University of Agriculture and Technology | Oyo | 2025 | FUAT |
| Federal University of Health Science and Technology | Zamfara | 2025 | FUHST |
Newly Established Federal Universities
| University Name | State | Year Established |
|---|---|---|
| Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru | Kebbi | 2020 |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo | Benue | 2021 |
| Federal University of Technology, Babura | Jigawa | 2021 |
| Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi | Akwa Ibom | 2021 |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare | Bauchi | 2021 |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun | Osun | 2021 |
| David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences | Ebonyi | 2022 |
| Federal University of Transportation, Daura | Katsina | 2023 |
| African Aviation and Aerospace University | FCT | 2023 |
| National University of Science and Technology | FCT | 2023 |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Bassam-Biri | Bayelsa | 2023 |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Kwale | Delta | 2023 |
| Federal University of Health Sciences, Katsina | Katsina | 2023 |
| Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi | Adamawa | 2024 |
| Federal University of Education, Zaria | Kaduna | 2024 |
| Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education | Imo | 2024 |
| Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education | Kano | 2025 |
| Adeyemi Federal University of Education | Ondo | 2025 |
| Federal University of Allied Health Sciences | Enugu | 2025 |
| Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences | Ogun | 2025 |
| Federal University of Education, Pankshin | Plateau | 2025 |
| Federal University of Education, Kontagora | Niger | 2025 |
| University of Maritime Studies | Akwa Ibom | 2025 |
| Federal University of Environment and Technology | Rivers | 2025 |
| Federal University of Applied Sciences | Kaduna | 2025 |
| Tai Solarin Federal University of Education | Ogun | 2025 |
| Federal University of Agriculture and Developmental Studies | Osun | 2025 |
| Federal University of Technology and Environmental Studies | Ekiti | 2025 |
| Federal University of Agriculture and Technology | Oyo | 2025 |
| Federal University of Health Science and Technology | Zamfara | 2025 |
Oldest Federal Universities in Nigeria
| Rank | University | Year Established |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Ibadan (UI) | 1948 |
| 2 | University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) | 1960 |
| 3 | Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) | 1961 |
| 4 | Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) | 1962 |
| 5 | University of Lagos (UNILAG) | 1962 |
| 6 | Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) | 1964 |
| 7 | University of Benin (UNIBEN) | 1970 |
| 8 | University of Calabar (UNICAL) | 1975 |
| 9 | University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) | 1975 |
| 10 | University of Jos (UNIJOS) | 1975 |
| 11 | University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) | 1975 |
| 12 | University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) | 1975 |
| 13 | Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS) | 1975 |
Best Federal Universities in Nigeria
| Rank | University | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Ibadan | UI |
| 2 | University of Lagos | UNILAG |
| 3 | Obafemi Awolowo University | OAU |
| 4 | Ahmadu Bello University | ABU |
| 5 | University of Nigeria, Nsukka | UNN |
| 6 | University of Ilorin | UNILORIN |
| 7 | Federal University of Technology, Akure | FUTA |
| 8 | University of Benin | UNIBEN |
| 9 | University of Port Harcourt | UNIPORT |
| 10 | Nnamdi Azikiwe University | UNIZIK |
| 11 | Bayero University | BUK |
| 12 | Federal University of Technology, Owerri | FUTO |
| 13 | Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta | FUNAAB |
| 14 | University of Jos | UNIJOS |
| 15 | University of Calabar | UNICAL |
Advantages of Studying in a Federal University
° Affordable fees
Federal University school fees are often affordable compared to state universities and private universities, but some Federal University school fees can be high, but still, they still offer a cheaper fee compared to other sets of universities.
°Accredited programs
One superior advantage of federal universities is the accreditation that they do enjoy. Most of the programs, up to 90%, are mostly accredited, which is a high rate compared to the accreditation rate of private and state universities.
° Better facilities
Federal universities do enjoy better facilities because of their access to funds, which makes this possible, and also because of the long years of existence they have, they have a long list of alumni who have also helped build facilities in the institutions as a means of giving back.
° Research opportunities
Most of the research opportunities in Nigerian universities often come from federal universities, with the lower percentage of these research opportunities falling to state universities.
° National recognition
Federal universities are recognized more than state and private universities in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
° How many federal universities are there in Nigeria?
There are 73 federal universities across Nigeria as of 2026.
° Which is the oldest federal university in Nigeria?
The University of Ibadan (UI) is the oldest university in Nigeria; it was established in 1948, years before Nigeria gained independence.
° Which federal university is the best in Nigeria?
The best federal universities in Nigeria are the University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and others.
Which federal universities offer medicine?
Which federal universities offer law?
Can I gain admission with 160 in JAMB?
° Are all federal universities accredited?
Definitely yes, all federal universities established by the federal government and permitted to start academic activities are fully accredited.
° Which federal universities offer medicine?
50% of federal universities do offer medicine and surgery, and some of the universities that do offer medicine and surgery are the University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Ilorin, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, and many more.
° Which federal universities do not write Post-UTME?
Federal universities that don’t write Post-UTME are Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and many more, most especially northern federal universities.
Conclusion
Above is the full list of federal universities in Nigeria, but this is subject to correction if a new federal university is established, hence increasing the list above.
Federal universities are highly desired because of some of the benefits students do enjoy when they attend federal universities, but federal universities are very competitive, and they also require high cutoff marks compared to both state and private universities.
Freeman is an education writer and the founder of Edulify. He has over four years of experience researching Nigerian universities, admissions, courses, and academic opportunities. His goal is to provide students with accurate, well-researched, and easy-to-understand educational guides to help them make informed academic decisions.