Top 10 Private Universities In Nigeria

What are the top universities in Nigeria according to Global rankings? 

In this article, using the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, we have ranked the best private universities in Nigeria.

What is the Times Higher Education Ranking?

Times Higher Education Ranking uses thirteen standardized performance indicators to rank universities worldwide. The performance indicators are grouped into five areas:

• Teaching (the learning environment);
• Research (volume, income, and reputation);
• Citations (research influence);
• International outlook (staff, students, and research); and
• Industry Income (knowledge transfer).

What is the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities?

Webometrics Ranking of World Universities covers more than 28,000 Higher Education Institutions worldwide. Webometrics rankings are strongly based on the volume and quality of the contents a university publishes on the Web.

How did we use the two Rankings to rank the best private universities in Nigeria?

The Times Higher Education Ranking has only one Private Nigerian Universities on their global rank: Covenant University. Covenant University is also the highest-ranked private university in Nigeria according to the latest position on Webometrics’ Ranking of World Universities. The other universities on the list, are listed according to their latest position on Webometrics’ Ranking of World Universities.

Top Private Universities in Nigeria

Based on the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings and Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, these are the best Private universities in Nigeria:

1. Covenant University

Location: Ota, Ogun State

Covenant University is owned by the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel). The University acquired its license on 12th February 2002 and officially opened on the 21st of October 2002.

Covenant University is renowned for its strict Christian values, academic excellence, innovation, and a conducive learning environment. It has a student population of about 15,000 students and a staff population of 1000 people.

According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Covenant University is the only Nigerian University ranked among the top 500 universities in the world. Webometrics considers Covenant University as the third best university in Nigeria and the best private-owned Nigerian University.

2. American University of Nigeria

Location: Yola, Adamawa State.

The American University of Nigeria was established in 2005 by the former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar. The University was established in a bid to create a Nigerian Version of the American University, Washington DC. It’s curriculum, teaching methods, and even accreditation standards are all in the American Style.

In 2015, AUN got listed in the World Guinness Book of Records for the largest group of people crocheting simultaneously. This act was sponsored and planned by the student body of the university to raise awareness on the use of non-degradable litter.

Webometrics considers the American University of Nigeria as the thirty-first university in Nigeria and the second-best private-owned Nigerian University.

3. Skyline University Nigeria

Location: Kano State

Kamal Puri, one of the UAE’s most successful businessmen established Skyline University College, Sharjah UAE in 1990. Skyline University Nigeria was established in 2018 to provide young Nigerians with quality, world-class learning.

Skyline is officially accredited and recognized by the National Universities Commission, Nigeria.  Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) is a coeducational higher education institution. Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees in several areas of study.

Webometrics ranks Skyline University Nigeria as the third best private university in Nigeria.

4. Landmark University

Location: Omu-Aran, Kwara State

Landmark University is a private owned University by Living Faith Church World Wide. Its aim is of Landmark University is to act as a catalyst for an agricultural revolution. The University commenced full operation in March 2011.

Landmark University is licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to run undergraduate programs in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences; Sciences and Engineering, Business and Social Sciences.

Webometrics ranks Skyline University Nigeria as the fourth-best private university in Nigeria.

5. Babcock University

Location: Ilisan Remo, Ogun state.

Babcock University is another university on this list affiliated with a church. `It is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and has gained popularity because of its unconventional management methods.

While a lot of Nigerian Universities still hold on to the traditional beliefs about school management, Babcock University has continuously implemented policies that improve the standard of Institution and its students.

Webometrics ranks Babcock University as the fifth-best private university in Nigeria.

6. Redeemer’s University

Location: Ede, Osun State

Redeemer’s University is another example of successful higher institutions built by a church. It was founded by the Redeemed Christian Church of God and was officially opened to the public in 2005. Since its inception, Redeemers has gradually become one of the best private universities in Nigeria. In 2015, Redeemers University beat many top-rated African Universities to win a world bank grant.

Webometrics ranks Redeemer’s University as the sixth-best private university in Nigeria.

7. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Location: Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State

The Joseph Ayo Babalola University otherwise called JABU for short is a privately owned university located in Osun State. It is owned by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC). The university was named after the first Spiritual leader of Christ Apostolic Church, Joseph Ayo Babalola.

The university has different colleges which include Law, Environmental Sciences, Natural Science, and Management Science. Students in this school are required to adopt a modest lifestyle based on biblical principles. Also, JABU pioneered the trend for entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. Following the success of JABU’s Entrepreneurial program, The National Universities Commission after that made it mandatory for general studies that include entrepreneurship in the various degree programs in Nigeria.

Joseph Ayo Babalola University is seventh on the list of Top 10 Private Universities In Nigeria.

8. Lagos Business School Pan Atlantic University

Location: Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

Lagos Business School (LBS) is the graduate business school of Pan-Atlantic University. In 2002, the name of the university was changed from Lagos Business School to Pan-African University. In May 2013 the name of the university was once again changed from Pan-African University to Pan-Atlantic University.

The university was founded on inspirations from the teachings of St Josemaria Escrivá, Opus Dei, a Spanish Roman Catholic priest who founded Opus Dei, an organization of lay people and priests dedicated to the teaching that everyone is called to holiness by God and that ordinary life can result in sanctity.

LBS offers academic programs, executive programs and short in management and it is renowned as one of the top global business schools, which makes it unsurprising to be listed as one of the top private universities in Nigeria.

9. Godfrey Okoye University

Location: Jideofor St, Thinkers Corner, Enugu

Godfrey Okoye University belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Enugu in Nigeria. It got its operational license on 3 November 2009 from the National Universities Commission. The vision of Godfrey Okoye University is to produce graduates who would be outstanding in learning, balanced in character, personality and ready to pursue epistemic unity in all its ramifications.

Godfrey Okoye University is the best private university in Southeast Nigeria and the ninth-best private university in Nigeria.

10.  First Technical University

Location: Ibadan

Tech-U is Nigeria’s first and only technical university. The University began operations in 2017 with the Faculties of Engineering and Technology and Natural Sciences.

The University has a total of 15 academic programs approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Some of these programs include Mechatronics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Food Science and Technology, Cyber Security, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Physics with Electronics, Petroleum Engineering, Industrial Chemistry, and Statistics.

The university has the vision to be a world-class institution, fully grounded in entrepreneurial practices, innovation, and sustainability science.

Webometrics ranks Technical University, Ibadan as the tenth best private university in Nigeria.

Now, we have come to the end of the list of best private universities in Nigeria, as of January 2020. We will update this list again when the next edition of the rankings are released.

You can also check out our list of top secondary schools in Lagos or the best states to serve during NYSC.