The South West geopolitical zone has emerged as the region with the highest number of licensed universities in Nigeria, according to fresh data released by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as of May 2025.
Out of the 298 licensed universities nationwide, the South West leads with 80 universities, followed by North Central with 59, and the South South with 53. The North West has 46, South East records 39, while the North East trails with 21.
By region:
South West — 80
North Central — 59
South South — 53
North West — 46
South East — 39
North East — 21
Top 12 states by number of varsities:
- Ogun — 23
- FCT — 17
- Osun — 14
- Delta — 14
- Lagos — 14
- Kano — 14
- Kwara — 13
- Oyo — 12
- Enugu — 11
- Ondo — 10
- Edo — 10
- Kaduna — 10
Ogun State stands out with 23 universities, making it not only the state with the most universities in the South West but the entire country. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) follows with 17, reflecting the growing presence of higher education institutions in Nigeria’s administrative capital.
The data underscores the educational dominance of the South West, particularly with five states from the zone appearing in the national top 12.
