The higher education landscape in Nigeria is diverse, encompassing a range of public and private institutions that provide opportunities for academic advancement and skill development.


This overview presents the distribution of higher institutions across the country, focusing on the number of private, state, and federal institutions in various regions and states. By examining these figures, we can better understand the educational infrastructure in Nigeria and its regional variations.

These institutions include universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, each playing a significant role in shaping the country's educational and socio-economic development.

This breakdown highlights key statistics on the number of institutions in both southern and northern Nigeria, as well as the concentration of higher education institutions by zone.


Understanding these patterns is essential for policymakers, educational planners, and stakeholders seeking to address challenges such as access to quality education, regional disparities, and the overall expansion of higher education in Nigeria.

Number of Private Higher Institutions in Nigeria

Top 12 States

• Ogun — 33
• Lagos — 31
• Osun — 31
• Kwara — 29
• Oyo — 23
• FCT — 21
• Benue — 20
• Kano — 19
• Enugu — 19
• Anambra — 17
• Bauchi — 17
• Abia — 15

Regions:
NC: North Central
NE: North East
NW: North West
SE: South East
SW: South West
(Univ, Poly/Mono, Colleges of Education)

Number of State Higher Institutions in Nigeria

Top 12 States

• Delta — 13
• Ogun — 13
• Kano — 13
• Oyo — 12
• Lagos — 11
• Yobe — 10
• Kwara — 8
• Bayelsa — 8
• Jigawa — 8
• Osun — 8
• Bauchi — 8
• Kogi — 8

Regions:
NC: North Central
NE: North East
NW: North West
SS: South South
SW: South West
(Univ, Poly, Colleges of Education)

Number of State Higher Institutions in Nigeria by Zone

• South West — 53
• North West — 49
• South South — 42
• North East — 39
• North Central — 37
• South East — 22
• Northern Nigeria — 125
• Southern Nigeria — 117

(Univ, Poly, Colleges of Education)

Number of Federal Higher Institutions in Nigeria

Top 12 States:

• Kaduna — 23
• Lagos — 17
• Kano — 12
• Oyo — 10
• Kwara — 9
• Delta — 9
• Plateau — 9
• Borno — 8
• Edo — 8
• Enugu — 8
• Gombe — 7
• Osun — 7

Regions: NC: North Central NE: North East NW: North West SE: South East SS: South South SW: South West (Univ, Poly, College of Education)

Number of Federal Higher Institutions in Nigeria by Zone:

• North West — 54
• South West — 45
• North Central — 39
• South South — 38
• North East — 31
• South East — 28
• Northern Nigeria — 124
• Southern Nigeria — 111

Higher Institutions in Nigeria

Top 12 States — Count:

• Lagos — 59
• Ogun — 49
• Osun — 46
• Kwara — 46
• Oyo — 45
• Kano — 44
• Kaduna — 42
• Delta — 36
• Enugu — 33
• Bauchi — 32
• Edo — 30
• Benue — 28

Regions: NC: North Central NE: North East NW: North West SE: South East SS: South South SW: South West (Univ, Poly, Colleges of Education)

Higher Institutions in Nigeria by Zone:

• South West — 241
• North Central — 185
• North West — 152
• South South — 141
• South East — 110
• North East — 104
• Southern Nigeria — 492
• Northern Nigeria — 441

Higher Institutions - Universities, Polytechnics & Colleges of Education