Private universities in Nigeria are now the gateway to quality, fast education for prospective undergraduates who intend, by all means, to avoid the hassles and poor situations found in federal or government-owned universities. While they are fast, stick to academic and never go on strike, private universities are governed with strict rules that could see any student out or expelled if any of those rules are violated.
Owing to the ineffectiveness and the horrible attention the federal government turn towards federal universities, some politicians, Christian missions or churches, celebrities, clergymen or pastors and socialites have chosen to exploit the weakness of the government by establishing private universities as ways to make quick and near-forever money.
A major disadvantage of private universities in Nigeria is their draconian laws that are clear flagrant disregard for rights of the students. Some of these schools prohibit their students from coming into their premises with smartphones, tablets, and other tech gadgets. The ones governed or controlled by churches or missions often make assembly-like gatherings in “chapels” extremely compulsory that missing such religious gatherings could spell trouble for the students involved.
Another clear disadvantage of private schools in Nigeria is their tuition fees which can go high as one million Naira for regular departments and nearly or more than two million Naira for health science courses. Their high tuition fees automatically rule out prospective undergraduates whose parents are not rich or wealthy enough to avoid such fees.
Private Universities in Nigeria
Private universities in Nigeria, as the name implies, refer to universities that are fully controlled and owned by individuals or organizations such as politicians, celebrities, missions or churches and even pastors. In total, there are 99 private universities in Nigeria.
While they are all under the National Universities Commission (NUC), private universities in Nigeria often have rules unique to each of them and more often than not, set varying prices for their tuition as well as other fees.
Here are the 99 private universities in Nigeria, their names, as well as the year they were founded:
| S/N | NAME OF UNIVERSITY | YEAR FOUNDED |
| 1 | Achievers University, Owo | 2007 |
| 2 | Adeleke University, Ede | 2011 |
| 3 | Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti – Ekiti State | 2009 |
| 4 | African University of Science & Technology, Abuja | 2007 |
| 5 | Ajayi Crowther University, Ibadan | 2005 |
| 6 | Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin | 2005 |
| 7 | Al-Qalam University, Katsina | 2005 |
| 8 | American University of Nigeria, Yola | 2003 |
| 9 | Augustine University | 2015 |
| 10 | Babcock University,Ilishan-Remo | 1999 |
| 11 | Baze University | 2011 |
| 12 | Bells University of Technology, Otta | 2005 |
| 13 | Benson Idahosa University, Benin City | 2002 |
| 14 | Bingham University, New Karu | 2005 |
| 15 | Bowen University, Iwo | 2001 |
| 16 | Caleb University, Lagos | 2007 |
| 17 | Caritas University, Enugu | 2005 |
| 19 | Chrisland University | 2015 |
| 20 | Covenant University Ota | 2002 |
| 21 | Crawford University Igbesa | 2005 |
| 22 | Crescent University | 2005 |
| 23 | Edwin Clark University, Kaigbodo | 2015 |
| 24 | Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin | 2012 |
| 25 | Evangel University, Akaeze | 2012 |
| 26 | Fountain Unveristy, Oshogbo | 2007 |
| 27 | Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike – Enugu State | 2009 |
| 28 | Gregory University, Uturu | 2012 |
| 29 | Hallmark University | 2015 |
| 30 | Hezekiah University, Umudi | 2015 |
| 31 | Igbinedion University Okada | 1999 |
| 32 | Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji | 2006 |
| 33 | Kings University | 2015 |
| 34 | Kwararafa University, Wukari | 2005 |
| 35 | Landmark University, Omu-Aran. | 2011 |
| 36 | Lead City University, Ibadan | 2005 |
| 37 | Madonna University, Okija | 1999 |
| 38 | Mcpherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo | 2012 |
| 39 | Micheal & Cecilia University | 2015 |
| 40 | Mountain Top University | 2015 |
| 41 | Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja | 2009 |
| 42 | Novena University, Ogume | 2005 |
| 43 | Obong University, Obong Ntak | 2007 |
| 44 | Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu – Osun State | 2009 |
| 45 | Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos | 2002 |
| 46 | Paul University, Awka – Anambra State | 2009 |
| 47 | Redeemer’s University, Mowe | 2005 |
| 48 | Renaissance University, Enugu | 2005 |
| 49 | Rhema University, Obeama-Asa – Rivers State | 2009 |
| 50 | Ritman University | 2015 |
| 51 | Salem University, Lokoja | 2007 |
| 52 | Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa. | 2011 |
| 53 | Southwestern University, Oku Owa | 2012 |
| 54 | Summit University | 2015 |
| 55 | Tansian University, Umunya | 2007 |
| 56 | University of Mkar, Mkar | 2005 |
| 57 | Veritas University | 2007 |
| 58 | Wellspring University, Evbuobanosa – Edo State | 2009 |
| 59 | Wesley University. of Science & Technology, Ondo | 2007 |
| 60 | Western Delta University, Oghara Delta State | 2007 |
| 61 | Christopher University Mowe | 2015 |
| 62 | Kola Daisi University Ibadan, Oyo State | 2016 |
| 63 | Anchor University Ayobo Lagos State | 2016 |
| 64 | Dominican University Ibadan Oyo State | 2016 |
| 65 | Legacy University, Okija Anambra State | 2016 |
| 66 | Arthur Javis University Akpoyubo Cross river State | 2016 |
| 67 | Cn Hill University Eiyenkorin, Kwara State | 2016 |
| 68 | Coal City University Enugu State | 2016 |
| 68 | Clifford University Owerrinta Abia State | 2016 |
| 69 | Admiralty University, Ibusa Delta State | 2017 |
| 70 | Spiritan University, Nneochi Abia State | 2017 |
| 71 | Precious Cornerstone University, Oyo | 2017 |
| 72 | PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Portharcourt | 2017 |
| 73 | Atiba University Oyo | 2017 |
| 74 | Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences Ijanikin, Lagos | 2017 |
| 75 | Skyline University, Kano | 2018 |
| 76 | Greenfield University, Kaduna | 2019 |
| 77 | Dominion University Ibadan, Oyo State | 2019 |
| 78 | Trinity University Ogun State | 2019 |
| 79 | Westland University Iwo, Osun State | 2019 |
| 80 | Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State | 2021 |
| 81 | Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State | 2021 |
| 82 | Maranatha University, Mgbidi, Imo State | 2021 |
| 83 | Ave Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State | 2021 |
| 84 | Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State | 2021 |
| 85 | Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State | 2021 |
| 86 | Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State | 2021 |
| 87 | Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State | 2021 |
| 88 | NOK University, Kachia, Kaduna State | 2021 |
| 89 | Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State | 2021 |
| 90 | James Hope University, Lagos, Lagos State | 2021 |
| 91 | Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano State | 2021 |
| 92 | Capital City University, Kano State | 2021 |
| 93 | Ahman Pategi University, Kwara State | 2021 |
| 94 | University of Offa, Kwara State | 2021 |
| 95 | Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State | 2021 |
| 96 | Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State | 2021 |
| 97 | Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja | 2021 |
| 98 | Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State | 2021 |
| 99 | Anan University, Kwall, Plateau State | 2021 |