The Goals of the National Universities Commission are:
- Attainment of stable and crisis-free University System.
- To work with Nigerian Universities to achieve full accreditation status for at least 80% of the academic programmes.
- To initiate and promote proficiency in the use of ICT for service delivery within the Commission and the Nigerian University System.
- Upgrade and maintain physical facilities in the Nigerian University System for delivery of quality university education.
- To match university graduate output with national manpower needs.
- To foster partnership between the Nigerian University System and the private sector.
The Functions of the Commission are:
- To advise the President and State Governors, through the Minister, on the creation of new universities and other degree-awarding institutions in Nigeria;
- To prepare, after consultation with the State Governments, the universities, the national manpower Board and such other bodies as it considers appropriate, periodic master plans for the balanced and co-coordinated development of all universities in Nigeria;
To lay down Minimum Academic Standards in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to accredit their degrees and other academic awards; - To ensure that quality is maintained within the academic programmes of the Nigerian University System;
- To make such other investigations relating to higher education as the Commission may consider necessary in the national interest;
- To inquire into and advise the Federal Government on the financial needs, both recurrent and capital, of university education in Nigeria and, in particular, to investigate and study the financial needs of university research and to ensure that adequate provision is made for this in the universities;
- To take into account, in advising the Federal and State Governments on university finances, such grants as may be made to the Universities by the Federal and State Governments, private proprietors and by persons and institutions in and outside Nigeria;
- To undertake periodic reviews of the terms and conditions of service of personnel engaged in the universities and to make recommendations thereon to the Federal Government where appropriate;
- To recommend to the Visitor of a university that a visitation be made to such university as and when it considers it necessary;
- To act as the agency for channeling all external aid to the universities in Nigeria;
- To receive block grants from the Federal Government and allocate them to Federal Universities in accordance with such formula as may be laid down by the National Council of Ministers.
Total Number of Universities
- Federal Universities (73) 24.4%
- State Universities (67) 22.4%
- Private Universities (159) 53.2%
Prof. Ribadu Calls for More Innovations in Nigerian Varsities
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, has called for more innovation in the Nigerian universities as a way of being relevant in the 21st century, stressing that universities must evolve from being just degree-awarding institutions to being drivers of innovation, skills and national progress
Ebonyi, gets new University of Aeronautics
On Friday, July 11, 2025, Ebonyi State celebrated the official presentation of a Certificate of Recognition for the establishment of the University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering by the NUC.
NUC Parleys EFCC on Funds Management in Public Varsities
The NUC in partnership with the EFCC, last Wednesday, 9th July, 2025, convened a joint strategic meeting of the VCs of Federal and State Universities, targeted at promoting integrity and probity in financial management within the Nigerian universities and address issues of crass corruptions reportedly ongoing in the management of the student’s loan scheme.
Nigeria, France Launch €38m ICT Project to Digitally Transform Higher Education
In a major push to modernise Nigeria’s public universities through digital innovation, the NUC and the AFD will, on 1st of July 2025, formally launch the Blueprint-ICT-Dev Project in Abuja. The initiative, backed by a €38 million financing from the French Government through AFD
‘Nigeria’s Tertiary Institutions Must Become Incubators of Creativity, Industry’ – HME
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has emphasised the need for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to become incubators of creativity, industry and sustainable enterprise.
FG Appoints Prof. Aina 13th NUC New Board Chairman
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has appointed Emeritus Professor Oluremi Raphael Aina OFR as Chairman
Prof. Ribadu Receives Council for Legal Education (CLE) Delegation
The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, FCVSN, last Friday, 27th of June, 2025, received in audience the Chairman of Centre for Legal Education, Barr. Emeka Ngige, SAN, who came to interface and discuss inter-agency matters, in his office.
LATE PROFESSOR JIBRIL AMINU (1939 – 2025) Pioneer Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (1974-1979)
The Management and Staff of the National Universities Commission received with deep sadness the news of the passing of Professor Jibril Aminu, who died on 5th June 2025.
AAU 16th Quadrenniel Conference, to Hold in Morocco
The Secretary General of the Association of African Universities, (AAU) Professor Olusola B. Oyewole last Wednesday 11th June, 2025, visited the Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu to intimate him of the upcoming 16th Quadrennial General Conference of the Association taking place in Rabat, Morocco from 21st to 25th July, 2025.



