75 Best universities for Development Studies in Nigeria

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 280K citations received by 41.1K academic papers made by 75 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

#339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1948

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Development Studies

#14 in Africa

#483 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Development Studies

#15 in Africa

#488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Founded: 1962

4. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Development Studies

#24 in Africa

#639 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1962

5. Covenant University

For Development Studies

#26 in Africa

#817 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

6. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Development Studies

#35 in Africa

#979 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 1975

7. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Development Studies

#43 in Africa

#1059 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Founded: 1991

8. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Development Studies

#46 in Africa

#1106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1975

9. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Development Studies

#47 in Africa

#1133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

10. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Development Studies

#50 in Africa

#1175 in the World

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

11. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Development Studies

#54 in Africa

#1289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

12. Lagos State University

For Development Studies

#62 in Africa

#1422 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

13. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Development Studies

#67 in Africa

#1486 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Enrollment: 17,672
Founded: 1981

14. Bayero University Kano

For Development Studies

#68 in Africa

#1515 in the World

Founded: 1975

15. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Development Studies

#69 in Africa

#1517 in the World

Founded: 1992

16. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Development Studies

#77 in Africa

#1641 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

17. University of Uyo

For Development Studies

#81 in Africa

#1697 in the World

Founded: 1991

18. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Development Studies

#88 in Africa

#1830 in the World

Founded: 2000

19. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Development Studies

#91 in Africa

#1877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

20. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Development Studies

#93 in Africa

#1879 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

21. University of Jos

For Development Studies

#94 in Africa

#1925 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 24,169
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1975

22. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Development Studies

#96 in Africa

#1958 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

23. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Development Studies

#101 in Africa

#2067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

24. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Development Studies

#106 in Africa

#2143 in the World

Founded: 1975

25. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Development Studies

#112 in Africa

#2241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1990

26. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Development Studies

#113 in Africa

#2254 in the World

Founded: 1980

27. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Development Studies

#115 in Africa

#2291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

28. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Development Studies

#116 in Africa

#2297 in the World

Founded: 1975

29. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Development Studies

#123 in Africa

#2524 in the World

Founded: 2002

30. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Development Studies

#125 in Africa

#2553 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

31. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Development Studies

#128 in Africa

#2609 in the World

Enrollment: 4,680
Founded: 1988

32. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

For Development Studies

#132 in Africa

#2662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

33. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Development Studies

#136 in Africa

#2742 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

34. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Development Studies

#137 in Africa

#2747 in the World

Enrollment: 16,092
Male:Female: 57:43
Founded: 1981

35. Redeemer's University

For Development Studies

#141 in Africa

#2820 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2005

36. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Development Studies

#142 in Africa

#2839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

37. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Development Studies

#144 in Africa

#2862 in the World

Founded: 2000

38. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Development Studies

#150 in Africa

#2916 in the World

Founded: 1992

39. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Development Studies

#151 in Africa

#2926 in the World

Founded: 1988

40. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Development Studies

#153 in Africa

#2937 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Founded: 2011

41. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Development Studies

#156 in Africa

#2959 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

42. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Development Studies

#157 in Africa

#2960 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

43. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Development Studies

#159 in Africa

#3004 in the World

Founded: 1988

44. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Development Studies

#161 in Africa

#3015 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Founded: 1982

45. African University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Abuja

For Development Studies

#166 in Africa

#3115 in the World

Founded: 2007

46. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Development Studies

#168 in Africa

#3150 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

47. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Development Studies

#173 in Africa

#3330 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

48. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Development Studies

#176 in Africa

#3349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

49. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Development Studies

#186 in Africa

#3467 in the World

Founded: 2002

50. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

For Development Studies

#188 in Africa

#3473 in the World

Founded: 1988

51. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Development Studies

#190 in Africa

#3490 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

52. Gombe State University

Nigeria | Gombe

For Development Studies

#195 in Africa

#3555 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2004

53. Bowen University

For Development Studies

#206 in Africa

#3776 in the World

Founded: 2001

54. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Development Studies

#207 in Africa

#3789 in the World

Founded: 2004

55. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Development Studies

#208 in Africa

#3799 in the World

Founded: 2011

56. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Development Studies

#213 in Africa

#3874 in the World

Founded: 2009

57. Tai Solarin University of Education

Nigeria | Ijebu-Ode

For Development Studies

#223 in Africa

#4045 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2005

58. Ondo State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Okitipupa

For Development Studies

#237 in Africa

#4241 in the World

Founded: 2008

59. American University of Nigeria

For Development Studies

#243 in Africa

#4306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

60. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Development Studies

#249 in Africa

#4447 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

61. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University

Nigeria | Katsina

For Development Studies

#256 in Africa

#4584 in the World

Enrollment: 13,256
Founded: 2006

62. Bells University of Technology

For Development Studies

#259 in Africa

#4632 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

63. Bingham University

Nigeria | Auta Balifi

For Development Studies

#260 in Africa

#4650 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2005

64. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Development Studies

#261 in Africa

#4664 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

65. Benson Idahosa University

Nigeria | Benin

For Development Studies

#267 in Africa

#4743 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2002

66. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Development Studies

#271 in Africa

#4770 in the World

Founded: 2011

67. Ajayi Crowther University

For Development Studies

#275 in Africa

#4872 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

68. Igbinedion University Okada

Nigeria | Okada

For Development Studies

#280 in Africa

#4915 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1999

69. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria | Birnin Kebbi

For Development Studies

#284 in Africa

#4949 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 2013

70. Novena University

Nigeria | Ogume

For Development Studies

#285 in Africa

#4975 in the World

Founded: 2005

71. Adamawa State University

For Development Studies

#286 in Africa

#4999 in the World

Founded: 2002

72. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Development Studies

#296 in Africa

#5094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

73. Federal University of Petroleum Resources

Nigeria | Effurun

For Development Studies

#298 in Africa

#5102 in the World

Founded: 2007

74. Adeleke University

For Development Studies

#305 in Africa

#5182 in the World

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

75. Caleb University

Nigeria | Imota

For Development Studies

#306 in Africa

#5185 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 Science5

Agricultural Economics31

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics55

Environmental Economics9

International Economics9

International Relations and Diplomacy7

International Trade8

Investment Banking and Stock trading23

Political Economy15