Top Ten Oldest Universities In Nigeria And Their Brief Historie
Nigeria had her first university as far back as before independence, and since then, the number of universities has continued to grow in Nigeria. Now its no longer the business of the government alone but also that of private individuals. The motivation has always been to meet up with the ever-growing demands for advanced education in the country. So many people, especially the youngsters who are yet to make choices of higher institutions do not really know which is which. It will be very beneficial if they get to know the first universities that were created in this noble country of ours as its is always believed that they boast the best educational facilities, resources, and reputation, even with age.
1. University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo – 1948
The University of Ibadan which was founded in 1984 metamorphosed from the Yaba Higher College. The Yaba high college was founded in 1932 in Yaba, Lagos as the first tertiary educational institute in Nigeria. But in 1948, when the need for a University became pressing, the college staff were transferred to start the University of Ibadan as an external college of the University of London, and the college premises were used for the new Yaba College of Technology. Rt. Hon. Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first Prime Minister of independent Nigeria was the first Chancellor, while Kenneth Dike was the first Nigerian Vice chancellor of the university, after whom the University of Ibadan’s library is named. The University’s current Vice Chancellor is Isaac F. Adewole. Despite being the oldest, the University of Ibadan is ranked with the best Nigerian Universities at the moment.
2. University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu state– 1960
It was the quest to establish a University in the Eastern part of Nigeria that gave birth to the University of Nigeria. A law in support of this quest was passed on the 18th of May, 1955, and on 7 October 1960, the University was officially opened. Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Nigerian independence celebrations, performed the opening ceremonies and laid the foundation stone of one of the University’s early buildings. The University’s first Vice chancellor was Dr. George Marion Johnson, while her current VC is now Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba. The University of Nigeria (UNN) was the first full-fledged indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria. It is still one of the best and most sought-after Universities in Nigeria.
3. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Efe – 1961
Obafemi Awolowo University which was founded in 1962 as the University of Ife was the brainchild of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12th May, 1987. The decision to establish this institution was in response to the agitations of the Westerners on the need for a higher institution that will cater for the education of their numerous secondary school leavers at that time. The cause of the agitation was the plan of the then Ashby Commission to establish additional Universities in the Northern and eastern Nigeria without putting the west into consideration. On 8 June 1961, the Law providing for the establishment of the Provisional council for the University was passed by the Legislature of the Western Region and on the 26th of the same month Provisional Council of the University was formally inaugurated under the chairmanship of Chief Rotimi Williams. OAU is also one of the highly recommended Universities in Nigeria.
4. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria – 1962
The School of Arabic Studies in Kano was the starting point of the Ahmadu Bello University. The school was upgraded by the Northern region to become the Ahmadu Bello University for Arabic and Islamic Studies, named after the region’s dominant political leader, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello. This was prior to the implementation of the plans in the Ashby Commission Report, to create additional universities to meet the academic needs of the country. However, the Ashby Commission report recommendations offered better direction, and it was ultimately decided to create a University of Northern Nigeria at Zaria (rather than Kano). The university took over the facilities of the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology at Samaru just outside Zaria, and incorporated the Ahmadu Bello College in Kano, the Agricultural Research Institute at Samaru, the Institute of Administration at Zaria, and the Veterinary Research Institute at Vom on the Jos Plateau. The law establishing the new university was passed by the Northern Region legislature in 1961. It was decided to name the university after Ahmadu Bello University. The 14th and current Vice-Chacellor of OAU is Professor Ibrahim Garba.
5. University Of Lagos, Lagos state – 1962
The establishment of the University of Lagos was done in Nigeria’s bid to invest in the training of a professional workforce which will help her achieve rapid industrialization and development after independence. The indispensable need to create more universities to reach this goal was facilitated by the establishment of the University of Lagos. The Ashby Commission’s report, titled Investment in Education, recommended the establishment of a new university in Lagos, the then Federal Capital, to provide education for students in Economics, Commerce, Business Administration, and Higher Management Studies. In 1961, UNESCO Advisory Commission was assigned the detailed planning of the new university by the Federal Government, and on 22 October 1962 on the authority of the University of Lagos Act of 1962, the University of Lagos was established.
6. University of Benin, Edo – 1970
The University of Benin, located in Benin city, Edo state, was founded in 1970. It started as an Institute of Technology and was accorded the status of a full-fledged University by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on 1 July 1971. In his Budget Speech in April 1972, the then Military Governor of Mid-Western State, Col. S. O. Ogbemudia, (then also Visitor to the University) formally announced the change of the name of the Institute of Technology to the University of Benin. On 1 April 1975 the University at the request of the State Government, was taken over by the Federal Government and became a Federal University. Today, the University of Benin has one of the best colleges of Medicine in Nigeria.
7. University of Maiduguri, Borno – 1975
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