National Universities Commission (NUC) don approve 33 new universities across Nigeria for 2025, and this one don push the total number of universities for the country reach 309.

 

According to information wey come from NUC official website, 20 out of the new universities na private-owned schools. Federal Government set up seven new universities, while state governments account for the remaining six.

With these new approvals, private universities now dey lead with 168 institutions for Nigeria. Federal universities dey 74, while state governments dey run 67 universities.

 

The seven new federal universities dey located for Rivers, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Zamfara states.

 

For state level, Niger, Benue, Cross River and Imo states each establish one new university, while Ebonyi State set up two.

Out of the 20 new private universities, six dey across Lagos State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Imo State — each of the three areas get two new institutions.

 

Another six dey for Ogun and Kwara states, with three universities each. The remaining ones spread across Ondo, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna and Taraba states.

Some of the new federal universities include:

• Federal University of Environment and Technology, Tai, 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

For state universities, new ones 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

 

Some of the private universities wey collect licence for 2025 include Leadership University, Abuja; Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin; Bridget University, Mbaise, Okirika-Nweke; Greenland University, Jalingo; JEFAP University, Suleja; Azione Verde University, Amaigbo; and Unique Open University, Ojo, Lagos State, among others.

 

For January 2026, NUC Executive Secretary, Abdullahi Ribadu, talk say more than 879 new academic programmes enter Nigerian universities for 2025.

 

According to am, the new programmes follow the recently approved Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). The new curriculum dey aim to reform the Nigerian University System and make graduates fit compete globally.

 

Ribadu explain say under CCMAS, 70 per cent of academic content na core curriculum wey NUC approve, while universities fit design the remaining 30 per cent based on their own strength and priority.

 

He add say the new programmes include 21st-century skills like digital literacy, entrepreneurship, critical thinking and problem-solving, though the emphasis fit differ depending on the course of study.

 

This latest approval na one of the biggest expansions of Nigeria university system for recent years, as demand for higher education continue to rise and government dey try widen access across the country.