List of Approved Private Universities, Including Their Names and Locations, Revealed by the Federal Government
Nigeria Approves Nine New Private Universities, Ending Years-Long Backlog
The Nigerian Federal Government has given the go-ahead for the operation of nine new private universities, marking the end of a six-year-long backlog of pending applications. These universities are:
- Tazkiyah University, Kaduna State
- Leadership University, Abuja
- Jimoh Babalola University, Kwara State
- Bridget University, Mbaise, Imo State
- Greenland University, Jigawa State
- JEFAP University, Niger State
- Azione Verde University, Imo State
- Unique Open University, Lagos State
- American Open University, Ogun State
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this decision following a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on August 13, 2025.
Initially, the ministry inherited 551 pending applications for tertiary institutions. After stricter guidelines were applied and reforms were introduced to streamline the approval processes for private universities, the list was trimmed down to 79 active cases. Nine were eventually approved to commence academic activities.
This initiative aims to improve educational quality, reduce bureaucratic delays, and foster a more streamlined and sustainable higher education sector in Nigeria. The approval is expected to:
- Expand access to higher education amid growing enrollment pressure on public institutions
- Provide alternatives to overburdened public universities
- Possibly improve standards due to the moratorium on new applications until institutions meet enhanced operational standards
- Encourage investment in campus infrastructure since many of these universities’ promoters had already made significant financial commitments
To ensure only institutions meeting the updated rigorous standards are allowed to proceed, a moratorium on new applications for private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education has been put in place.
The delays in licensing the institutions were due to inefficiencies within the National Universities Commission (NUC). Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, stated that these reforms have cleared the backlog caused by previous inefficiencies.
The newly approved private universities will be located in Kaduna State, Abuja, Kwara State, Mbaise, Imo State, Jigawa State, Niger State, Lagos State, and Ogun State.
References: [1] Nigerian Tribune. (2025, August 13). Federal Government Approves Nine New Private Universities. Retrieved from https://www.nigeriantribune.com/news/federal-government-approves-nine-new-private-universities/ [2] The Guardian. (2025, August 13). Nine New Private Universities Approved by FG. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/news/nine-new-private-universities-approved-by-fg/ [3] Daily Trust. (2025, August 13). FG Approves Establishment of Nine New Private Universities. Retrieved from https://dailytrust.com/fg-approves-establishment-of-nine-new-private-universities/ [4] Vanguard. (2025, August 13). FEC Approves Establishment of Nine New Private Universities. Retrieved from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/08/fec-approves-establishment-of-nine-new-private-universities/
- The Nigerian Federal Government, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, has granted permission for the operation of nine new private universities, ending a six-year backlog of pending applications.
- Among the approved universities are Leadership University, based in Abuja, and Unique Open University located in Lagos State.
- This decision by the Ministry of Education, led by Dr. Tunji Alausa, comes after stricter guidelines and reforms were implemented to streamline the approval processes for private universities.
- The aim of this initiative is to improve educational quality, reduce bureaucratic delays, and foster a more streamlined and sustainable higher education sector in Nigeria.
- The newly approved universities are anticipated to expand access to higher education, offer alternatives to overburdened public universities, and potentially enhance standards due to the moratorium on new applications until institutions meet enhanced operational standards.
- To ensure that only institutions meeting the updated rigorous standards are allowed to proceed, a moratorium on new applications for private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education has been implemented.
