58 Best universities for Literature in Nigeria

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Nigeria ranked based on their research performance in Literature. A graph of 83.1K citations received by 12.5K academic papers made by 58 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

#773 in the World

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

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Literature

#14 in Africa

#923 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Literature

#17 in Africa

#1038 in the World

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

4. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Literature

#22 in Africa

#1220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Enrollment: 76,000
Founded: 1975

5. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Literature

#29 in Africa

#1365 in the World

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

6. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Literature

#33 in Africa

#1404 in the World

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

7. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#34 in Africa

#1453 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

8. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Literature

#37 in Africa

#1506 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

9. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Literature

#38 in Africa

#1538 in the World

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

10. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Literature

#40 in Africa

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

11. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Literature

#41 in Africa

#1589 in the World

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

12. Covenant University

For Literature

#51 in Africa

#1796 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

13. University of Uyo

For Literature

#54 in Africa

#1896 in the World

Founded: 1991

14. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Literature

#57 in Africa

#1908 in the World

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

15. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Literature

#60 in Africa

#1941 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

16. Lagos State University

For Literature

#66 in Africa

#2028 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

17. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Literature

#69 in Africa

#2136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

18. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Literature

#77 in Africa

#2277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

19. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Literature

#78 in Africa

#2298 in the World

Founded: 1992

20. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Literature

#82 in Africa

#2410 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

21. Bayero University Kano

For Literature

#85 in Africa

#2526 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

22. University of Jos

For Literature

#91 in Africa

#2590 in the World

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

23. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Literature

#107 in Africa

#2894 in the World

Founded: 1980

24. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Literature

#108 in Africa

#2904 in the World

Founded: 1975

25. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Literature

#109 in Africa

#2907 in the World

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

26. Redeemer's University

For Literature

#110 in Africa

#2908 in the World

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

27. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Literature

#112 in Africa

#2941 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

28. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Literature

#113 in Africa

#2963 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

29. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Literature

#116 in Africa

#3014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

30. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Literature

#121 in Africa

#3164 in the World

Founded: 1988

31. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Literature

#123 in Africa

#3176 in the World

Founded: 1992

32. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Literature

#124 in Africa

#3213 in the World

Founded: 2000

33. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Literature

#125 in Africa

#3215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

34. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Literature

#128 in Africa

#3286 in the World

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

35. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Literature

#129 in Africa

#3300 in the World

Founded: 2002

36. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

For Literature

#130 in Africa

#3305 in the World

Founded: 1988

37. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Literature

#133 in Africa

#3347 in the World

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

38. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

For Literature

#137 in Africa

#3403 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

39. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Literature

#138 in Africa

#3418 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

40. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Literature

#143 in Africa

#3505 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

41. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Literature

#146 in Africa

#3536 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

42. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Literature

#152 in Africa

#3615 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

43. Bowen University

For Literature

#156 in Africa

#3652 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

44. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Literature

#160 in Africa

#3714 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

45. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Literature

#163 in Africa

#3771 in the World

Founded: 2009

46. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Literature

#168 in Africa

#3814 in the World

Founded: 1981

47. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Literature

#169 in Africa

#3823 in the World

Founded: 2011

48. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Literature

#180 in Africa

#3985 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

49. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Literature

#181 in Africa

#3998 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

50. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Literature

#187 in Africa

#4085 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

51. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Literature

#188 in Africa

#4107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

52. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Literature

#189 in Africa

#4117 in the World

Founded: 1988

53. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Literature

#190 in Africa

#4125 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

54. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Literature

#192 in Africa

#4137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

55. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Literature

#196 in Africa

#4230 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

56. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Literature

#198 in Africa

#4243 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

57. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Literature

#211 in Africa

#4400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

58. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Literature

#213 in Africa

#4415 in the World

Founded: 2004

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 Writing11

Entertainment Industry Business10

Fashion Design56

Illustration and Concept Art2

Interior Design2

Landscape Architecture2

Painting and Drawing2

Performing arts3

Singing and Vocal Performance2