State universities in Nigeria play a critical role in the nation’s higher education landscape. Unlike federal universities, which are managed and funded by the federal government, state universities are established, funded, and managed by individual state governments.
The establishment of state universities in Nigeria began in earnest in the 1980s. The first state university, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), was founded in 1980. This was driven by the growing demand for higher education, which federal universities alone could not meet. Over the subsequent decades, numerous states followed suit, setting up their universities to provide more educational opportunities for their populations.
Each state university operates under the legal framework provided by the state government that established it. The governance of these universities typically involves a governing council, which includes representatives from the state government, academic staff, alumni, and other stakeholders. The Vice-Chancellor, appointed by the state governor, oversees the university’s day-to-day administration.
State universities in Nigeria offer a diverse range of academic programs, including sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, medicine, and agriculture. These programs are designed to meet the educational needs of their regions and contribute to the socio-economic development of their states.
State universities are spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West.
- Abia State University, Uturu ABSU
- Adamawa State University Mubi ADSU
- Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba AAUA
- Akwa Ibom State University, Mkpatenin AKSU
- Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma AAU
- AbdulKadir Kure University, Minna Niger State
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli
- Bauchi State University, Gadau BASUG
- Benue State University, Makurdi BSU
- Yobe State University, Damaturu YSU
- Cross River State University of Science &Technology, Calabar CRUTECH
- Delta State University Abraka DELSU
- Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki EBSU
- Ekiti State University EKSU
- Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu ESUT
- Gombe State Univeristy, Gombe GSU
- Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai IBBU
- Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni IAUE
- Imo State University, Owerri IMSU
- Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, Jigawa SLU
- Kaduna State University, Kaduna KASU
- Kano University of Science & Technology, Wudil KUST
- Kebbi State University, Kebbi KSUST
- Kogi State University Anyigba KSU
- Kwara State University, Ilorin KWASU
- Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso LAUTECH
- Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa OSUSTECH
- River State University of Science and Technology RSUST
- Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye OOU
- Lagos State University, Ojo LASU
- Niger Delta University Yenagoa NDU
- Nasarawa State University Keffi NSUK
- Plateau State University Bokkos PLASU
- Tai Solarin University of Education Ijebu Ode TASUED
- Umar Musa Yar’ Adua University Katsina UMYU
- Osun State University Osogbo UNIOSUN
- Taraba State University, Jalingo TASU
- Sokoto State University SSU
- Northwest University Kano NWU
- Oyo State Technical University Ibadan Tech-U
- Ondo State University of Medical Sciences UNIMED
- Edo State University EDSU
- Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University Ogboko, Imo State KOMU
- University of Africa Toru Orua, Bayelsa State UAT
- Bornu State University, Maiduguri BOSU
- Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology Abeokuta
- Gombe State University of Science and Technology
- Zamfara State University
- Bayelsa Medical University
- Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, CUSTECH
- University of Delta, Agbor UNIDEL
- Delta University of Science and Technology, Ozoro DSUST
- Dennis Osadebe University, Asaba DOU
- Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology Ikere, Ekiti State BOUESTI
- Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) UAES
- Lagos State University of Science and Technology LASUSTECH
- Lagos State University of Education LASUED
- Shehu Shagari University of Education, Sokoto
- Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Igbo-Eno
- University of Ilesa, Osun State
- Emmanuel Alayande University of Education. Oyo, Oyo State
- Sa’adatu Rimi University of Education, Kano
- Kogi State University, Kabba