78 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 1.69M citations received by 153K academic papers made by 78 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 Physics

#27 in Africa

#1315 in the World

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

2. University of Nigeria

Nigeria | Nsukka

For Physics

#32 in Africa

#1439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Founded: 1960

3. Obafemi Awolowo University

For Physics

#37 in Africa

#1602 in the World

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

4. Federal University of Technology, Akure

Nigeria | Akure

For Physics

#40 in Africa

#1639 in the World

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

5. Ahmadu Bello University

Nigeria | Zaria

For Physics

#44 in Africa

#1725 in the World

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

6. University of Lagos

Nigeria | Lagos

For Physics

#49 in Africa

#1823 in the World

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

7. Covenant University

For Physics

#51 in Africa

#1854 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2002

8. University of Ilorin

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Physics

#52 in Africa

#1884 in the World

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

9. University of Port Harcourt

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Physics

#55 in Africa

#1913 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Founded: 1975

10. University of Benin

Nigeria | Benin

For Physics

#61 in Africa

#2006 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1970

11. University of Calabar

Nigeria | Calabar

For Physics

#72 in Africa

#2179 in the World

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

12. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

For Physics

#78 in Africa

#2250 in the World

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

13. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

Nigeria | Ogbomoso

For Physics

#81 in Africa

#2287 in the World

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

14. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

Nigeria | Owerri

For Physics

#87 in Africa

#2399 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1980

15. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Physics

#91 in Africa

#2440 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Founded: 1988

16. University of Uyo

For Physics

#93 in Africa

#2475 in the World

Founded: 1991

17. Federal University of Technology, Minna

Nigeria | Minna

For Physics

#99 in Africa

#2558 in the World

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

18. Bayero University Kano

For Physics

#105 in Africa

#2647 in the World

Enrollment: 45,810
Founded: 1975

19. Rivers State University

Nigeria | Port Harcourt

For Physics

#111 in Africa

#2826 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1980

20. Landmark University

Nigeria | Omu-Aran

For Physics

#119 in Africa

#3002 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Founded: 2011

21. Delta State University, Abraka

Nigeria | Abraka

For Physics

#120 in Africa

#3033 in the World

Founded: 1992

22. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Physics

#122 in Africa

#3067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1982

23. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture

Nigeria | Umuahia

For Physics

#128 in Africa

#3105 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 1992

24. University of Maiduguri

Nigeria | Maiduguri

For Physics

#133 in Africa

#3169 in the World

Enrollment: 52,000
Founded: 1975

25. Olabisi Onabanjo University

Nigeria | Ago Iwoye

For Physics

#138 in Africa

#3254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Founded: 1982

26. Niger Delta University

Nigeria | Wilberforce Island

For Physics

#147 in Africa

#3466 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2000

27. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

Nigeria | Bauchi

For Physics

#148 in Africa

#3475 in the World

Founded: 1988

28. Afe Babalola University

Nigeria | Ado Ekiti

For Physics

#149 in Africa

#3481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 2009

29. University of Agriculture, Makurdi

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Physics

#152 in Africa

#3508 in the World

Founded: 1988

30. University of Jos

For Physics

#154 in Africa

#3533 in the World

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

31. Adekunle Ajasin University

Nigeria | Akungba Akoko

For Physics

#155 in Africa

#3541 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Founded: 1982

32. Lagos State University

For Physics

#156 in Africa

#3570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1983

33. Ebonyi State University

Nigeria | Abakaliki

For Physics

#158 in Africa

#3612 in the World

Founded: 2000

34. Federal University of Petroleum Resources

Nigeria | Effurun

For Physics

#160 in Africa

#3716 in the World

Founded: 2007

35. Usmanu Danfodio University

Nigeria | Sokoto

For Physics

#161 in Africa

#3730 in the World

Founded: 1975

36. Benue State University

Nigeria | Makurdi

For Physics

#163 in Africa

#3756 in the World

Founded: 1992

37. Osun State University

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Physics

#165 in Africa

#3848 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Founded: 2007

38. Modibbo Adama University of Technology

For Physics

#173 in Africa

#3984 in the World

Founded: 1988

39. Akwa Ibom State University

Nigeria | Ikot Akpad

For Physics

#174 in Africa

#3986 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2009

40. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti

Nigeria | Oye-Ekiti

For Physics

#176 in Africa

#4019 in the World

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

41. Kwara State University

Nigeria | Ilorin

For Physics

#177 in Africa

#4020 in the World

Founded: 2009

42. Ambrose Alli University

Nigeria | Ekpoma

For Physics

#178 in Africa

#4026 in the World

Founded: 1980

43. University of Abuja

Nigeria | Abuja

For Physics

#182 in Africa

#4094 in the World

Enrollment: 35,372
Founded: 1988

44. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University

For Physics

#188 in Africa

#4131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Founded: 2000

45. Imo State University

Nigeria | Owerri

For Physics

#191 in Africa

#4155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

46. Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Enugu

For Physics

#192 in Africa

#4162 in the World

Founded: 1981

47. Redeemer's University

For Physics

#196 in Africa

#4195 in the World

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

48. Abia State University

Nigeria | Uturu

For Physics

#203 in Africa

#4361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1981

49. Kaduna State University

Nigeria | Kaduna

For Physics

#213 in Africa

#4486 in the World

Founded: 2004

50. African University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Abuja

For Physics

#217 in Africa

#4532 in the World

Founded: 2007

51. Pan-Atlantic University

Nigeria | Lagos

For Physics

#220 in Africa

#4588 in the World

Founded: 2002

52. Lead City University

Nigeria | Ibadan

For Physics

#221 in Africa

#4590 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2005

53. Bells University of Technology

For Physics

#222 in Africa

#4593 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2005

54. Federal University, Lafia

Nigeria | Lafia

For Physics

#224 in Africa

#4603 in the World

Enrollment: 20,000
Founded: 2011

55. Babcock University

Nigeria | Ilishan-Remo

For Physics

#230 in Africa

#4651 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Founded: 1999

56. Bowen University

For Physics

#232 in Africa

#4706 in the World

Enrollment: 4,751
Founded: 2001

57. Kogi State University

Nigeria | Anyigba

For Physics

#234 in Africa

#4777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 1999

58. Nasarawa State University

Nigeria | Keffi

For Physics

#235 in Africa

#4787 in the World

Enrollment: 35,000
Founded: 2002

59. Ondo State University of Science and Technology

Nigeria | Okitipupa

For Physics

#244 in Africa

#4926 in the World

Founded: 2008

60. Tai Solarin University of Education

Nigeria | Ijebu-Ode

For Physics

#249 in Africa

#5036 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Founded: 2005

61. Gombe State University

Nigeria | Gombe

For Physics

#254 in Africa

#5119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Founded: 2004

62. Federal University, Otuoke

Nigeria | Otuoke

For Physics

#256 in Africa

#5197 in the World

Founded: 2011

63. Adamawa State University

For Physics

#257 in Africa

#5199 in the World

Founded: 2002

64. Federal University, Lokoja

Nigeria | Lokoja

For Physics

#259 in Africa

#5245 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Founded: 2011

65. Crescent University, Abeokuta

Nigeria | Abeokuta

For Physics

#263 in Africa

#5313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2005

66. American University of Nigeria

For Physics

#267 in Africa

#5408 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 2004

67. Fountain University, Osogbo

Nigeria | Osogbo

For Physics

#270 in Africa

#5444 in the World

Founded: 2007

68. Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Nigeria | Ikeji-Arakeji

For Physics

#271 in Africa

#5454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Founded: 2006

69. Umaru Musa Yar'Adua University

Nigeria | Katsina

For Physics

#273 in Africa

#5498 in the World

Founded: 2006

70. Federal University, Birnin Kebbi

Nigeria | Birnin Kebbi

For Physics

#285 in Africa

#5686 in the World

Enrollment: 7,000
Founded: 2013

71. Adeleke University

For Physics

#286 in Africa

#5692 in the World

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

72. Igbinedion University Okada

Nigeria | Okada

For Physics

#294 in Africa

#5757 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Founded: 1999

73. Bingham University

Nigeria | Auta Balifi

For Physics

#298 in Africa

#5872 in the World

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

74. Ajayi Crowther University

For Physics

#303 in Africa

#5930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2005

75. Benson Idahosa University

Nigeria | Benin

For Physics

#322 in Africa

#6162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Founded: 2002

76. Caleb University

Nigeria | Imota

For Physics

#332 in Africa

#6410 in the World

Founded: 2007

77. Novena University

Nigeria | Ogume

For Physics

#333 in Africa

#6424 in the World

Founded: 2005

78. Paul University

For Physics

#347 in Africa

#6641 in the World

Founded: 2009

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

Physics subfields in Nigeria

Acoustical Engineering54

Astrophysics and Astronomy63

Atomic and Molecular physics15

Condensed Matter Physics22

Materials Science76

Medical Physics2

Nanotechnology55

Nuclear Physics50

Optical Engineering68

Quantum and Particle physics77

Theoretical Physics15