77 Best universities for Development Studies 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 Development Studies. A graph of 571K citations received by 59.2K academic papers made by 77 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.

1. University of Ibadan

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Development Studies

#10 in Africa

#303 in the World

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

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Development Studies

#13 in Africa

#384 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Development Studies

#16 in Africa

#446 in the World

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

4. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Development Studies

#21 in Africa

#559 in the World

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

5. Covenant University

For Development Studies

#27 in Africa

#692 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

6. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Development Studies

#33 in Africa

#840 in the World

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

7. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Development Studies

#37 in Africa

#872 in the World

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

8. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Development Studies

#38 in Africa

#879 in the World

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

9. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Development Studies

#47 in Africa

#1052 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

10. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Development Studies

#48 in Africa

#1065 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

11. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Development Studies

#50 in Africa

#1073 in the World

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

12. Lagos State University

For Development Studies

#57 in Africa

#1205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

13. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Development Studies

#59 in Africa

#1209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

14. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Development Studies

#60 in Africa

#1244 in the World

Founded: 1992

15. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Development Studies

#63 in Africa

#1305 in the World

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

16. Bayero University Kano

For Development Studies

#68 in Africa

#1361 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

17. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Development Studies

#74 in Africa

#1455 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

18. University of Uyo

For Development Studies

#78 in Africa

#1509 in the World

Founded: 1991

19. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Development Studies

#79 in Africa

#1529 in the World

Founded: 2000

20. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Development Studies

#82 in Africa

#1600 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

21. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Development Studies

#88 in Africa

#1655 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

22. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Development Studies

#90 in Africa

#1671 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

23. University of Jos

For Development Studies

#96 in Africa

#1771 in the World

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

24. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Development Studies

#98 in Africa

#1799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

25. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Development Studies

#101 in Africa

#1814 in the World

Founded: 1975

26. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Development Studies

#102 in Africa

#1843 in the World

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

27. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Development Studies

#107 in Africa

#1918 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

28. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Development Studies

#114 in Africa

#2055 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

29. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Development Studies

#119 in Africa

#2093 in the World

Founded: 1980

30. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Development Studies

#123 in Africa

#2142 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

31. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Development Studies

#125 in Africa

#2191 in the World

Founded: 1981

32. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

For Development Studies

#126 in Africa

#2194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

33. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Development Studies

#128 in Africa

#2206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

34. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Development Studies

#129 in Africa

#2231 in the World

Founded: 2002

35. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Development Studies

#131 in Africa

#2325 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

36. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Development Studies

#134 in Africa

#2390 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

37. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Development Studies

#138 in Africa

#2421 in the World

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

38. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Development Studies

#142 in Africa

#2484 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

39. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Development Studies

#143 in Africa

#2495 in the World

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

40. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Development Studies

#146 in Africa

#2566 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

41. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Development Studies

#153 in Africa

#2626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

42. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Development Studies

#154 in Africa

#2627 in the World

Founded: 1992

43. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Development Studies

#156 in Africa

#2654 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

44. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Development Studies

#159 in Africa

#2689 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

45. Redeemer's University

For Development Studies

#162 in Africa

#2728 in the World

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

46. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

For Development Studies

#167 in Africa

#2839 in the World

Founded: 1988

47. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Development Studies

#168 in Africa

#2848 in the World

Founded: 1988

48. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Development Studies

#169 in Africa

#2881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

49. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Development Studies

#173 in Africa

#2920 in the World

Founded: 1988

50. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Development Studies

#175 in Africa

#2997 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

51. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Development Studies

#183 in Africa

#3115 in the World

Founded: 2009

52. Bowen University

For Development Studies

#191 in Africa

#3279 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

53. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Development Studies

#192 in Africa

#3303 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

54. Gombe State University

Nigeria | Gombe

For Development Studies

#195 in Africa

#3376 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2004

55. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Development Studies

#199 in Africa

#3441 in the World

Founded: 2004

56. Tai Solarin University of Education

Nigeria | Ijebu-Ode

For Development Studies

#200 in Africa

#3449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2005

57. African University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Abuja

For Development Studies

#202 in Africa

#3453 in the World

Founded: 2007

58. Bells University of Technology

For Development Studies

#203 in Africa

#3473 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

59. American University of Nigeria

For Development Studies

#217 in Africa

#3664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

60. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Development Studies

#218 in Africa

#3677 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

61. Ondo State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Okitipupa

For Development Studies

#231 in Africa

#3927 in the World

Founded: 2008

62. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Development Studies

#247 in Africa

#4123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

63. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Development Studies

#249 in Africa

#4186 in the World

Founded: 2011

64. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Development Studies

#250 in Africa

#4236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

65. Benson Idahosa University

Nigeria | Benin

For Development Studies

#257 in Africa

#4332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2002

66. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University

Nigeria | Katsina

For Development Studies

#263 in Africa

#4447 in the World

Founded: 2006

67. Bingham University

Nigeria | Auta Balifi

For Development Studies

#264 in Africa

#4485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 9,000
Founded: 2005

68. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria | Birnin Kebbi

For Development Studies

#273 in Africa

#4648 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 2013

69. Igbinedion University Okada

Nigeria | Okada

For Development Studies

#275 in Africa

#4686 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1999

70. Ajayi Crowther University

For Development Studies

#276 in Africa

#4701 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

71. Adamawa State University

For Development Studies

#277 in Africa

#4708 in the World

Founded: 2002

72. Adeleke University

For Development Studies

#281 in Africa

#4772 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,500
Founded: 2011

73. Novena University

Nigeria | Ogume

For Development Studies

#282 in Africa

#4780 in the World

Founded: 2005

74. Federal University of Petroleum Resources

Nigeria | Effurun

For Development Studies

#292 in Africa

#4855 in the World

Founded: 2007

75. Caleb University

Nigeria | Imota

For Development Studies

#302 in Africa

#5005 in the World

Founded: 2007

76. Crescent University, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Development Studies

#324 in Africa

#5365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2005

77. Fountain University, Osogbo

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Development Studies

#325 in Africa

#5384 in the World

Founded: 2007

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

Economics subfields in Nigeria

Actuarial Science12

Agricultural Economics45

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics65

Environmental Economics16

International Economics15

International Relations and Diplomacy7

International Trade14

Investment Banking and Stock trading39

Political Economy28