57 Best universities for Literature in Nigeria

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Nigeria ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 74K citations received by 12.1K academic papers made by 57 universities in Nigeria was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Literature

#13 in Africa

#767 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 41,269
Founded: 1948

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Literature

#14 in Africa

#931 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Literature

#16 in Africa

#1026 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Enrollment: 32,480
Founded: 1962

4. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Literature

#22 in Africa

#1223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

5. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Literature

#28 in Africa

#1361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 48,680
Founded: 1962

6. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Literature

#32 in Africa

#1401 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 40,645
Founded: 1975

7. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#34 in Africa

#1434 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

8. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Literature

#35 in Africa

#1463 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

9. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Literature

#38 in Africa

#1541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

10. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Literature

#39 in Africa

#1545 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1991

11. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Literature

#41 in Africa

#1586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 23,100
Founded: 1981

12. Covenant University

For Literature

#49 in Africa

#1796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

13. University of Uyo

For Literature

#53 in Africa

#1868 in the World

Founded: 1991

14. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Literature

#54 in Africa

#1871 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 49,436
Founded: 1962

15. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Literature

#60 in Africa

#1949 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

16. Lagos State University

For Literature

#66 in Africa

#2019 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

17. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#68 in Africa

#2099 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

18. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Literature

#76 in Africa

#2254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

19. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Literature

#77 in Africa

#2294 in the World

Founded: 1992

20. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Literature

#80 in Africa

#2375 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

21. Bayero University Kano

For Literature

#86 in Africa

#2536 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

22. University of Jos

For Literature

#90 in Africa

#2563 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

23. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Literature

#103 in Africa

#2850 in the World

Founded: 1980

24. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Literature

#105 in Africa

#2890 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

25. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Literature

#106 in Africa

#2904 in the World

Founded: 1975

26. Redeemer's University

For Literature

#108 in Africa

#2924 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2005

27. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Literature

#109 in Africa

#2950 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1990

28. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Literature

#112 in Africa

#2964 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

29. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Literature

#116 in Africa

#3058 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

30. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Literature

#119 in Africa

#3112 in the World

Founded: 1988

31. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Literature

#120 in Africa

#3123 in the World

Founded: 1992

32. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Literature

#124 in Africa

#3191 in the World

Founded: 2000

33. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Literature

#125 in Africa

#3195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

34. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

For Literature

#129 in Africa

#3279 in the World

Founded: 1988

35. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Literature

#130 in Africa

#3299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

36. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Literature

#132 in Africa

#3323 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 26,181
Founded: 1982

37. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

For Literature

#135 in Africa

#3384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

38. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Literature

#137 in Africa

#3430 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

39. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Literature

#138 in Africa

#3472 in the World

Founded: 2002

40. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Literature

#142 in Africa

#3516 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 130,000
Founded: 1999

41. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Literature

#151 in Africa

#3572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

42. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Literature

#152 in Africa

#3584 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

43. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Literature

#156 in Africa

#3646 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

44. Bowen University

For Literature

#157 in Africa

#3666 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

45. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Literature

#166 in Africa

#3803 in the World

Founded: 2009

46. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Literature

#169 in Africa

#3818 in the World

Founded: 1981

47. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Literature

#172 in Africa

#3841 in the World

Founded: 2011

48. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Literature

#180 in Africa

#3972 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

49. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Literature

#182 in Africa

#4007 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

50. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Literature

#187 in Africa

#4067 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

51. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Literature

#188 in Africa

#4079 in the World

Founded: 1988

52. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Literature

#189 in Africa

#4080 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

53. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Literature

#191 in Africa

#4128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

54. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Literature

#192 in Africa

#4130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

55. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Literature

#195 in Africa

#4199 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

56. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Literature

#205 in Africa

#4346 in the World

Founded: 2004

57. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Literature

#206 in Africa

#4357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

The best cities to study Literature in Nigeria based on the number of universities and their ranks are Ibadan, Nsukka, Ife, and Ilorin.

Art & Design subfields in Nigeria

Cinematography5

Creative Writing10

Entertainment Industry Business10

Fashion Design54

Illustration and Concept Art2

Interior Design1

Landscape Architecture2

Painting and Drawing2

Performing arts2

Singing and Vocal Performance3