The history of university education in Nigeria is traced to the Elliot Commission of 1943, which culminated in the establishment of the University College Ibadan (UCI) in 1948. UCI was an affiliate of the University of London.
In April 1959, the Federal Government commissioned an inquiry (the Ashby Commission) to advise it on the higher education needs of the country for its first two decades.
Before the submission of the report, the Eastern Region of the government established its own university at Nsukka (the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1960).
The implementation of the Ashby Report led to the establishment of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) in 1962 by the Western Region, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1962 by the Northern Region, and the University of Lagos (1962).
The University College, Ibadan became a full-fledged university in 1962. This meant that UCI, Ibadan, and the University of Lagos became Nigeria’s first two federal universities – the other three remained regional.
In 1970, the newly created Midwestern region opted for a university known as the University of Benin. The six universities established from 1960-1970 are still referred to as first-generation universities.
In the Third National Development Plan (1975 -1980), the government established seven universities instead of the four proposed in the plan and also took over the four regional universities in 1975. They were the Universities of Calabar, Ilorin, Jos, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Port Harcourt, and Ado Bayero University, Kano – all known as second-generation universities.
Third-generation universities were established between 1980 and early 1990. They are the Federal Universities of Technology in Owerri, Makurdi, Yola, Akure, and Bauchi.
The fourth-generation universities are those established between 1991 and the present date. They include more state
universities, Nigerian open universities, and many private universities.
Here is a comprehensive list of Federal Universities in Nigeria accredited by the National University Commission
| S/N | FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES | YEAR FOUNDED |
| 1 | Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi | 1988 |
| 2 | Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria | 1962 |
| 3 | Bayero University, Kano | 1975 |
| 4 | Federal University Gashua, Yobe | 2013 |
| 5 | Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun | 2007 |
| 6 | Federal University of Technology, Akure | 1981 |
| 7 | Federal University of Technology, Minna | 1982 |
| 8 | Federal University of Technology, Owerri | 1980 |
| 9 | Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State | 2011 |
| 10 | Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina | 2011 |
| 11 | Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State | 2011 |
| 12 | Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State | 2011 |
| 13 | Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State | 2011 |
| 14 | Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State | 2011 |
| 15 | Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa | 2011 |
| 16 | Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State | 2011 |
| 17 | Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State | 2011 |
| 18 | Federal University, Birnin Kebbi | 2013 |
| 19 | Federal University, Gusau Zamfara | 2013 |
| 20 | Michael Okpara University of Agricultural Umudike | 1992 |
| 21 | Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola | 1981 |
| 22 | National Open University of Nigeria, Lagos | 2002 |
| 23 | Nigeria Police Academy Wudil | 2013 |
| 24 | Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna | 1985 |
| 25 | Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka | 1992 |
| 26 | Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife | 1962 |
| 27 | University of Abuja, Gwagwalada | 1988 |
| 28 | Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta | 1988 |
| 29 | University of Agriculture, Makurdi | 1988 |
| 30 | University of Benin | 1970 |
| 31 | University of Calabar | 1975 |
| 32 | University of Ibadan | 1948 |
| 33 | University of Ilorin | 1975 |
| 34 | University of Jos | 1975 |
| 35 | University of Lagos | 1962 |
| 36 | University of Maiduguri | 1975 |
| 37 | University of Nigeria, Nsukka | 1960 |
| 38 | University of Port-Harcourt | 1975 |
| 39 | University of Uyo | 1991 |
| 40 | Usumanu Danfodiyo University | 1975 |
| 41 | Nigerian Maritime University Okerenkoko, Delta State | 2018 |
| 42 | Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna | 2018 |
| 43 | Nigerian Army University Biu | 2018 |
| 44 | Federal University of Health Technology, Otukpo Benue State | 2020 |
| 45 | Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State | 2020 |
| 46 | Federal University of Technology, Babura, Jigawa State | 2021 |
| 47 | Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State | 2021 |
| 48 | Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State | 2021 |
| 49 | Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, Osun State | 2021 |
| 50 | David Nweze Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu | 2022 |
| 51 | Admiralty University Ibusa, Delta State | 2023 |
| 52 | Federal University of Transportation Daura, Katsina | 2023 |
