The National Universities Commission (NUC) has expanded Nigeria’s higher education landscape with the approval of 33 new universities, further increasing the number of degree-awarding institutions across the country to 309.

The newly approved institutions span federal, state, and private ownership, reflecting continued growth in demand for tertiary education.

According to a report from the NUC website, in 2025, not less than 20 new private universities were approved by the commission, while the federal government established seven new institutions and state governments accounted for the remaining six.

Over 10 states benefited from the newly approved federal universities, such as Rivers, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Zamfara states.

Others are Niger, Benue, Cross River, and Imo states, which had one university established, while Ebonyi Sate got two universities.

For the newly approved private universities, Lagos, the FCT, and Imo States host two universities each.

The new federal universities are the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Tai town, Rivers State; Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, Kaduna State; and Federal University of Agriculture and Developmental Studies, Iragbiji, Osun State;

Others are Federal University of Technology and Environmental Studies, Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti State; Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho, Oyo State, among others.

For the newly approved state universities, Abdulsalam Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Action, Mokwa, Niger State; Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe; Cross River University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa; Benue State University of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Ihugh, among others.

The private universities are Leadership University, Abuja; Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin, Kwara State; and Bridget University, Mbaise, Okirika-Nweke, Imo state.

Others are Greenland University, Jalingo, Taraba State; JEFAP University, Suleja, Niger State; Azione Verde University, Amaigbo, Imo State; and Unique Open University, Ojo, Lagos State, among others.

Abdullahi Ribadu, the executive secretary of the NUC, in January, noted that more than 879 new programmes were introduced in Nigerian universities in 2025, following the recently approved core curriculum minimum academic standards (CCMAS).

Ribadu emphasised that the move was aimed at transforming the Nigerian university system (NUS) to produce globally competitive graduates.

“The CCMAS is a framework that guides university programmes in Nigeria, with 70 per cent devoted to core content and 30 percent reserved for university-specific content.

“The new programmes also incorporate 21st-century skills such as digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving, with emphasis varying across disciplines,” he noted.