The national universities commission (NUC) approved 33 new universities across the country in 2025, bringing the total number to 309.
Data obtained from the NUC website shows that 20 new private universities were granted operating licences by the commission last year, while the federal government established seven new institutions and state governments account for the remaining 67.
The new federal universities are located in Rivers, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Zamfara states. Niger, Benue, Cross River, and Imo states each established one new university, while Ebonyi established two.
Among the 20 new private universities, six are spread across Lagos, the FCT, and Imo, with each hosting two.
Another six are located in Ogun and Kwara, with three in each state, while the rest are situated in Ondo, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, and Taraba states.
Of the overall total, the private sector leads with 168 universities, followed by the federal government with 74, while state governments account for the remaining 67.
Some of the new federal institutions include the 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, among others.
The newly established state universities include Abdulsalam Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Action, Mokwa, Niger state; Ebonyi state University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe, Ebonyi state; Cross River University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa, Cross River state; Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh, among others.
Those of the private universities include Leadership University, Abuja, FCT; Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin, Kwara state; Bridget University, Mbaise, Okirika-Nweke, Imo state; Greenland University, Jalingo, Taraba state; JEFAP University, Suleja, Niger state; Azione Verde University, Amaigbo, Imo State; Unique Open University, Ojo, Lagos state, among others.
In January 2026, Abdullahi Ribadu, executive secretary of the NUC, note that more than 879 new programmes were introduced in Nigerian universities in 2025, following the recently approved core curriculum minimum academic standards (CCMAS).
He said the move was aimed at transforming the Nigerian university system (NUS) to produce globally competitive graduates.
According to him, CCMAS is a framework that guides university programmes in Nigeria, with 70 per cent devoted to core content and 30 per cent reserved for university-specific content.
The new programmes also incorporate 21st-century skills such as digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving, with emphasis varying across disciplines.
