In Nigeria, state universities are public higher institutions owned, funded, or managed by state governments.
They offer a wide range of academic programmes at the certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels.
While funding mainly comes from state governments, many of these universities also generate income through tuition, alumni donations, endowments, and internally generated revenues.
This structure makes them an essential pillar of Nigeria’s educational system.
Categories of Universities in Nigeria
Nigeria’s higher education is classified into:
- Federal Universities (owned by the Federal Government).
- State Universities (owned by state governments).
- Private Universities (owned by individuals, groups, or religious bodies).
There are also specialized institutions such as:
- Universities of Agriculture
- Universities of Technology
- Universities of Education
Growth of State Universities
Over the years, state governments have increasingly established universities to expand access to higher education.
Newer institutions have emerged as recently as 2025, including specialized universities in agriculture, ICT, aeronautics, and entrepreneurship.
Examples of State Universities in Nigeria
Some of the oldest include:
- Rivers State University of Science and Technology (1979)
- Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (1980)
- Abia State University, Uturu (1981)
Newer institutions include:
- University of Delta, Agbor (2021)
- Lagos State University of Education (2022)
- Kogi State University, Kabba (2023)
- Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology (2025)
- University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, Ebonyi State (2025)
This shows a steady spread of state universities across all regions of Nigeria, improving accessibility to higher education.
Importance of State Universities
These universities serve as:
- Major providers of tertiary education.
- Catalysts for state-level research and innovation.
- Drivers of regional development by training skilled professionals.
- Alternatives to federal and private universities, reducing admission pressure.