The Southwest region in Nigeria has the highest concentration of universities in the country, BusinessDay analysis of universities and their locations in the country has shown. This makes the region, where the country’s commercial capital, Lagos is located, the heartbeat of high level manpower production in the country.
According to statistics from the NUC website, Nigeria has a total of 163 universities. This is shown in the comprehensive list of Federal, State and Private Universities approved by the commission.
BusinessDay analysis shows that 34 percent of all federal, state and private universities approved by the National
Universities Commission (NUC) are located in states in the South-Western part of Nigeria.
The six states in the South-Western part of Nigeria comprising of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States, houses 46 universities, which is the highest number of universities located in a particular part of country.
States in South-South region including Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers States, have 31 universities representing 23 percent, which accounts as the second-highest number of NUC approved universities located in one region.
Also states in South-East region comprising of Abia, Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States, have 24 universities representing 17 percent of the total number of NUC approved Universities, which makes the region with the third highest number of universities.
NUC statistics further revealed that North-Central states including Kwara, Niger, FCT Abuja, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States, also have 24 universities representing 17 percent of the total number.
The North- Western states of Kano, Kaduna, Katstina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto and Zamfara have 18 universities representing 13 percent of the total number. While the North- Eastern states of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba, have 15 universities representing 11 percent of the total number, which is the least number of universities that are located in a region.
In terms of states, Ogun State has a total of 14 universities representing the state with the highest number of universities. This was followed by Lagos, Delta and Osun states that have eight universities each.
Peter Okebukola, former executive secretary, National Universities Commission while commenting on reasons behind the surge of Universities observe that Ogun state’s proximity to Lagos State and cheaper access to land in the state has influenced the high number of universities in the state. As for the Southwest region, early access to education in the Southwest and an investor-friendly environment account for the high number of universities and schools, he said.
Okebukola also argues that the large number of persons in the the South-Western region hungry for university education makes it the preferred destination for private investors who wants to set up university.
“Ogun State, which is proximal and adjoining to Lagos state, takes advantage by providing proprietors a relatively cheaper land space for the establishment of their universities”.
Okebukola was quick to note that NUC applies due diligence and scrutiny before granting approval for the setting up of a university.
Others states with sizeable number of Universities include Edo and Ondo states that have seven universities each while Kwara, Anambra, Oyo and Enugu States have six universities each.
The NUC statistics further shows that 10 Northern states namely Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Jigawa, Plateau, Niger, Bauchi and Yobe States, have the least number two Universities each.
Shehu Alhaji Musa, vice chancellor, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, had recently raised concerns over the low academic enrolment of Northerners across higher institutions in the country.
Musa expressed concern over the high level of illiteracy in the region wondered how millions of youths roaming the street uneducated would take up leadership position in the nearest future.
He further lamented that of the about 163 universities in Nigeria, the North-East region can only boast of 11 percent, a development he described as worrisome.
Regional analysis show that, Anambra State has the highest number of universities located in the South-East region; Delta State has the highest number of universities located in the South- South while Kwara State has the highest in the whole of the Northern region.
In the NUC guidelines basic approval requirements before a university is approved include academic brief, physical master plan, university law, and evidence of sustainable funding as well as extensive land area for future expansion.
