From the point of view of a newly graduated secondary school student in Nigeria, there are a few things that are foremost in their minds like choosing a University in Nigeria. To their credit, this choice is one of the most crucial decisions that any could make in their lives.
Choosing a University is one of those crossroads in life that forever determines the path you lead in life, from the course you study to even the lifelong friendships you procure, choosing the right University is paramount. With diverse institutions offering all scopes of programs, facilities, in different environments, making an informed choice is difficult. Take a dive into this article on the 10 things to consider when choosing a University in Nigeria to help you better make a more informed decision for this key point in your life.
1. Accreditation and recognition
Perhaps the most important first step you can take is ensuring the accreditation of your prospective University. Your University needs to be accredited by relevant bodies. By design, an accredited University is guaranteed to meet all the standard requirements of quality and is following all the rules and regulations set by its accrediting body while also offering a valid degree.
The National Universities Commission (NUC), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), is the major accreditation body for all Universities in Nigeria. The main responsibilities of the commission are as follows:
- Approving all the academic programmes run in Nigerian Universities.
- Approving the estabilishment of all the higher educational institutions offering degree programmes in Nigerian Universities.
- Ensuring the steady quality of all offered academic programmes in Nigerian Universities.
- A channel for all external support to the Nigerian Universities.
To any prospective student choosing a University in Nigeria, they should first check the NUC website to verify that their chosen University and course are recognized by NUC to avoid any future complications.
2. Course availability and specialization
The next thing to consider when choosing a University is the availability of the prospective course to be studied as well as the universities specializing in said course. Just because a university might have robust selection of courses does not mean that it is the best choice for you specifically. The age of the course is also important.
Let us take the University of Maiduguri for example, with the newly established Department of Petroleum Engineering. Now this is a new course that has not had sufficient time to mature and as a result does not have any results to show. If you dig deeper, these types of new courses will have their students borrow a significant portion of courses from other departments as part of their own and so a student might graduate with a broad rather than narrow knowledge of their own course. This is easily solved by finding a course that has had many years to develop in its institution.
Now even though the age of the course is important, the specialization of the university is just as, if not more important to consider when choosing a university. When looking to apply for an Engineering course, looking to institutions like the University of Lagos, Federal University of Technology Akure, or Covenant University will be best. It is recommended for any student to research the course availability and specialization before choosing a Nigerian University.
3. Academic reputation and ranking
Reputation and rankings of a university also go hand in hand. Knowing how an institution is perceived both locally and internationally will also help. Rankings are often times a sure method to find out not only how the university is looked at but also the quality of their education, facilities, and even students. Universities will always compete to come out at the top of these rankings making for a quality healthy competition among them.
There are several ranking websites to look at when researching rankings of Nigerian Universities. More often than not, the University of Lagos, Covenant University, University of Ibadan, and Obafemi Awolowo University will come out on top, but this can be due to several reasons. These ranking sites look at many independent factors that can contribute their own personal rankings. Combining the specific rankings of universities with rankings of courses in universities will help make a pin point decision when it comes to choosing a Nigerian university.
4. Facilities and Infrastructure
It is now a very well-known fact that most Nigerian Universities are not equipped with the right facilities and infrastructure to support their academics. As a result, it is vital to examine and find the Nigerian university with the best facilities and infrastructure. Factors like well-equipped libraries, laboratories, sports facilities, adequate lecture halls, and student/lecturer accommodations are all major points to consider.
Some popular universities known for their state-of-the-art facilities include, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, American University of Nigerian, Yola, and several other private universities. Finding the Nigerian universities with the best facilities can be done by visiting university campuses if possible or virtually exploring through pictures and videos which can often be found on the university websites. Doing these things can provide you with a glimpse into the learning environments of Nigerian universities.
5. Location and Campus Environment
Depending on where you live, the location of the university can play a major role on your overall experience. Different elements come into play when it comes to location. Factors like the proximity of the institution to your home, weather of location, safety of the community in and surrounding the university, and even the socio-cultural environment should all be taken into account.
For instance, universities that are located in major cities like Abuja or Lagos which offer a vibrant fast paced city life will come with a significant disadvantage in the form of a high cost of living to residents. In the other hand, universities located in smaller cities like Jalingo or Zaria can provide a quieter more academic focused experience with an even better cost of living when compared to more major cities. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the campus location and environment will help you choose a place where you will thrive as a student.
6. Alumni network and employability
Being aware of a university’s alumni network can enrich career opportunities through the means of networking, mentorship, and job vacancies. A robust alumni network is often times had by universities with a reputation for producing a high rate of successful graduates. A successful alumni is a good indication of the effectiveness of his/her graduated Institution.
Take into consideration institutions like the University of Lagos and Covenant University with an extensive list of well-known alumni. This serves to rise their reputation in the national and the international academic market and in turn are very sought after. Finding and engaging with alumni and even current students can provide an insight into the type of life you could have in the prospective University.
7. Student support services
University is a stepping stone on your way to leading a successful career, that is why it is important to have someone that fully grasps the path and can steer you along the right direction. That is why having a strong support service in university is key. Having adequate support services like academic advising, counseling, career services, and extracurricular activities is essential to both your academic and personal development.
Covenant university has a dedicated program, “Student Support Programme (SSP)” to help students with such services and even beyond. Having a strong student support system also helps minors like foreign students to integrate into the Nigerian education system which might be unfamiliar to them. The services are not only limited to university official groups but can also be unofficial groups run by student communities which can be just as effective as official ones. As you can see, researching student support services is also useful in choosing a Nigerian university.
8. Research opportunities and innovation
If you are one of those people that is passionate and concerned with the development of humanity, researching opportunities and innovation in the university will be a necessity to you. As such, institutions that offer ample and quality research opportunities, grants, facilities, and innovative solutions will have more sway in your choice.
Universities like the Federal University of Technology, Akure, or the University of Ibadan are very well known for their research innovation and research contributions to the community. FUTA for example, has several individual research teams from the Engineering and Technology Research Team to the Health and Biomedical Research Team, each dedicated to the advancement of their fields of study. Research opportunities and innovation are also key in choosing a university in Nigeria.
9. University catchment area
Nigeria has a unique concept called “catchment area”. This term refers to the geographical regions or zones from which universities and other institutions give preference to applicants in the process of gaining admission. Many factors determine the catchment area of a university but it is more often than not the vicinity of the institution. Other factors include state of origin or local government area.
As such, choosing a university can be very difficult or easy depending on your region. When considering whether or not to give admission, Nigerian universities look first at the applicants from their catchment area with the highest grades, then after going through those will look at other student applications. And so the people not within the catchment area end up being few because they are not given the same level of importance as people within the catchment area. It is also good to note that your JAMB score, and WEAC marks play a key role in you getting admission into universities that are not within your catchment area. Naturally, the higher the score, the better your chances.
Let us take Bayero University, Kano (BUK) for example, which is very well known to favour people from Kano state above all else. Now a student residing in Lagos with an average JAMB score trying to gain admission into BUK will find it very difficult. Much more so than a Kano State indigene with the same score. This goes to show that the same situation with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) will have a reversed outcome. As you can see, picking your university based on catchment area can be the deciding factor in gaining admission.
10. Cost and financial aid
Last but not least, when it comes to choosing a university, cost might be arguable the most important factor. The cost of education is a key factor, especially in Nigeria where financial support is a significant challenge for many students. Not only is the Tuition cost in play, but also accommodation costs, small academic expenses, and other living expenses. This accumulatively can overwhelm many people and can be the determining factor in taking the first step to higher education.
Public universities are largely more affordable than private universities. However, private universities tend to offer better facilities, infrastructure, and in most cases don’t look at your catchment area for admission. This can be a great option for the more financially cable. Make sure to look into scholarships, grants, and any other type of financial assistance that a university may offer. Scholarships are also offered by government and independent bodies to help students out financially. Websites like annual scholarships offer some of the latest best scholarship opportunities to students of all backgrounds. Most universities will keep you up to date with all the their financial costs on their websites so be sure to check them out.
Final thoughts
Choosing a university in Nigeria will require a careful analysis of factors that should align with your academic, personal, and career goals. By examining factors such as Accreditation and recognition, Course availability and specialization, Academic reputation and ranking, Facilities and infrastructure, Location and campus environment, Alumni network and employability, Student support services, Research opportunities and innovation, University catchment area, and finally, cost and financial aid will help you make a better more well-informed decision in choosing a Nigerian university. Take time to properly research, it will pay off.
