Nigerian Universities: Student Population And Growth

Nigeria has over 270 universities, including some of the oldest institutions in the country such as the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos, and the University of Nigeria. In the 2018/2019 academic year, Nigerian universities counted 1.8 million undergraduate students and 242,000 postgraduate students. The largest university in Nigeria is the National Open University, with over half a million students enrolled as of 2019.

Undergraduate students by ownership

In the 2018/2019 academic year, there were 1.8 million undergraduate students in Nigeria. The majority of these (1.2 million) attended federal universities, while private universities had around 103,000 students.

Federal universities are usually the largest and have the highest number of enrolments. Male students are the majority in federal and state institutions, while there are slightly more female students in private universities.

The National Open University of Nigeria is the country's largest university, with over half a million students enrolled as of 2019. It is based in Abuja but has several campuses across the country. It is also one of the largest open and distance learning institutes on the African continent.

Sciences and social sciences are the most chosen disciplines among bachelor's students. However, there are some consistent differences in the enrollment of women and men. For example, in engineering, technology, and computing faculties, male students are in the vast majority.

Postgraduate students

Diving deeper into the demographics of postgraduate students in Nigeria, we see that women accounted for 38% of Master's students in the 2018/2019 academic year, indicating a higher ratio of male to female students at this level. However, it's important to note that the overall gender distribution may vary when considering other postgraduate qualifications, such as diplomas or Ph.D. programs.

The academic disciplines chosen by postgraduate students in Nigeria also offer insight into their preferences and interests. Administration and management, education, sciences, and social sciences were the most common fields of study for Master's and diploma students. For Ph.D. candidates, the main subjects of focus included sciences, basic health, and health sciences.

The distribution of postgraduate students across different types of universities in Nigeria is also worth noting. Federal universities tend to be the largest and attract the highest number of enrolments, followed by state institutions and private universities. This pattern holds for undergraduate students as well, with federal universities hosting the majority of the student population.

Gender distribution

In the 2018/2019 academic year, Nigerian universities counted 1.8 million undergraduate students and 242,000 postgraduate students. Out of the undergraduate students, 44% were women, while women accounted for 38% of postgraduate students.

In the field of physiotherapy, more men than women have historically graduated from Nigerian universities. A 2005 study found that 62% of physiotherapy graduates were male, while 38% were female. The study included data from five Nigerian universities: the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Nigeria, and Bayero University, Kano. The University of Ibadan had the highest number of graduates, with almost half of the physiotherapists in the study having graduated from there. The study also noted that the majority of graduates were from the southwestern part of the country.

The gender imbalance in Nigerian physiotherapy graduates differs from the situation in the United Kingdom, where physiotherapy has been reported to be a predominantly female profession. However, in Nigeria, the foundation practitioners of physiotherapy were a male and female pair, and the first set of Nigerian physiotherapists were mostly male.

Most popular courses

As of 2019, there were over 1.8 million full-time undergraduate students in Nigeria, with the sciences and social sciences being the most common disciplines chosen. Here is a more detailed look at some of the most popular courses in Nigerian universities:

Medicine and Surgery

Medicine and Surgery is the most competitive course in Nigerian universities, attracting the top students due to the prestige of the profession and its vital role in society. The allure of a successful and respected career in medicine drives the intense competition for places on these courses. There are limited medical schools in the country and the academic standards are rigorous, creating a highly selective admissions process.

Law

Law is another highly competitive course in Nigeria, with universities that have renowned law faculties receiving overwhelming numbers of applications. The study of law is seen as a gateway to a wide range of careers, not just as a lawyer or in court, but in any factor of society. It is also deemed an interesting and ethical profession that is highly admirable.

Pharmacy

The growing healthcare sector in Nigeria and the limited number of pharmacy programs make this course highly competitive. Aspiring pharmacists must demonstrate a strong academic foundation and a passion for the field to secure admission.

Dentistry and Dental Surgery

Like Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry and Dental Surgery programs are highly competitive due to limited availability and high demand for dental professionals.

Engineering (All Disciplines)

The demand for engineers in Nigeria is high, particularly with the nation's focus on infrastructural development. As a result, engineering programs in all disciplines, including Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and Petroleum Engineering, are highly sought after by students. Strong mathematical and scientific abilities are essential requirements for admission.

Computer Science

The digital age has surged the demand for Computer Science graduates in Nigeria, and the limited availability of programs, along with the allure of lucrative tech careers, contributes to intense competition for places. The high number of graduates sought by companies and the vulnerability of industries to cyberattacks and information management issues also make this a popular course choice.

University sizes

Nigeria has over 270 universities, including federal, state, and private institutions. The number of universities has increased significantly over the last few decades, particularly the number of private institutes.

Undergraduate Students

In the 2018/2019 academic year, there were 1.8 million full-time undergraduate students in Nigeria. Federal universities enrolled the highest number of students, with 1.2 million, while private universities enrolled around 103,000. Sciences and social sciences were the most popular disciplines among undergraduate students, followed by administration and management.

Postgraduate Students

In 2019, there were around 120,000 postgraduate students in Nigeria, excluding diploma and PhD students. The most common fields of study for postgraduate students were administration and management, education, sciences, and social sciences.

Largest University

The National Open University of Nigeria is the country's largest university, with over half a million students enrolled as of 2019. It is the largest open and distance learning institute on the African continent, with campuses across Nigeria.

Frequently asked questions