In 2025, the National Universities Commission (NUC) authorized 33 new universities nationwide, increasing the total to 309. 

According to information gleaned from the NUC website, the commission last year authorized the operations of 20 new private universities, with the federal government establishing seven new institutions and the states handling the remaining six.

 The states of Rivers, Kaduna, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Zamfara are home to the new federal universities. 

While Ebonyi established two new universities, Niger, Benue, Cross River, and Imo states each established one. Six of the 20 new private universities—two at each—are dispersed around Lagos, the FCT, and Imo.

The remaining six are spread over the states of Ondo, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, and Taraba, with three in each of Ogun and Kwara. Out of all the universities, the private sector has the most (168), followed by the federal government (74), and state governments (67). 

Among the new federal institutions are the Federal University of Agriculture and Developmental Studies in Iragbiji, Osun state; the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Tai Town, Rivers state; the Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna state; the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Studies in Iyin-Ekiti, Ekiti state; and the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology in Okeho, Oyo state.

Among the recently founded state universities are Benue State University of Agriculture, Science, and Technology, Ihugh; Abdulsalam Abubakar University of Agriculture and Climate Action, Mokwa, Niger State; Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science, and Technology, Oferekpe, Ebonyi State; and Cross River University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa, Cross River State.

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