Ever wondered what private university is the first in Nigeria? Right here you’ll find the answer to that question.
In the past, only the federal government and state governments had the mandate to create and run institutions of higher learning.
However, in the later parts of the 1990s, the Nigerian senate enacted a new law which gave permission to interested individuals to set up higher institutions.
But, the questions now is, which private university was first to capitalize on the new law?
First private university in Nigeria?
The first and, thus, oldest private university in Nigeria is Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO). It was established in 1999.
Igbinedion University is located at Okada, headquarters of Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo state. The school was named after it’s founder, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion CFR, a billionaire, philanthropist and a prominent Benin Chief.
More about the oldest private university in Nigeria:
Igbinedion University is made up of 7 colleges (faculties, as some school prefer to call it). Those colleges are:
- College of Arts & Social Sciences(CASS)
- Sanusi Lamido Sanusi College of Business & Management Studies(CBM)
- Abdul Salaam Abubakar College of Engineering
- Oba Okunade Sijuade College of Health Sciences(Medical)
- Oba Erediauwa College of Law
- College of Natural & Applied Sciences
- Dora Akunyili College of Pharmacy
All the above colleges present in Igbinedion have their respective libraries.
As expected, Igbinedion is also one of the most developed private universities in Nigeria. Owning to the funding of major projects by the CBN and several donations from well-wishers.
So far, the institution has partnered with several foreign institutions — including Howard University, USA; East Carolina University, USA; and many more — with the aim of building quality and sustainable standard of education.
Now that you know almost everything about Nigeria’s first and thus oldest private university, read also:
- List of all the Universities in Nigeria
- List of all the private universities in Nigeria
- Top 20 oldest universities in Nigeria