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 (74) 24.6%
- State Universities (67) 22.6%
- Private Universities (159) 52.8%
NUC Participates at HAQAA3 Dissemination Workshop in Ghana
The NUC, was among the participants at the 4-day Workshop on Harmonisation of Quality Assurance Accreditation HAQAA3 Dissemination Project, held at DAAD Office, in Accra,Ghana
NUC Begins Development of CCMAS for Two Indigenous Languages
In furtherance of the National Universities Commission’s (NUC’s) mandate to uphold standards in the Nigerian University System (NUS), the Executive Secretary of the Commission (NUC)
Nigerian Delegation Attends 43rd UNESCO General Conference
The HMSE, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, led a delegation from Nigeria that included the ES, NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, to the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference
ES, NUC Inaugurates LOC on HAQAA3 Project Dissemination
The inauguration ceremony which took place at the Executive Secretary’s Office, was in furtherance of the sustained commitment of the National Universities Commission to the HAQAA3 Dissemination Project funded by DAAD/EU.
The HME launches the ACE Alliance and the Compendium on Key Achievements and Impacts of the ACE Project.
The NUC on November 3, 2025, hosted the official launch of the Africa Centres of Excellence (ACE) Alliance and the Compendium on Key Achievements and Impacts of the ACE Project.
ES Charges NUC Staff on Ethical Conduct during 2025 Accreditation Exercise
The ES, NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu has charged the staff of the Commission to see Accreditation as a national assignment and selfless venture which cannot be adequately compensated for, urging them to maintain the ethos of integrity and objectivity as the 2025 NUC-wide exercise begins
ES Participates at Sao Polo, Brazil, 2025 Higher Education Conference
The ES, NUC, Prof. Yusufu Ribadu, was among the high-profile participants at the recently held conference of the France-Brazil-Africa Dialogue for Higher Education under the framework of the 2025 France-Brazil culture week institutional encounters and students’ fairs.
Former Acting Executive Secretary, Mr. Chris J. Maiyaki, officially bows out of service.
It was a momentous occasion, as the Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), NUC, Mr. Christopher Jibreel Maiyaki on Friday, 17th October, 2025, bowed out of the services of the Commission after 35 years of outstanding and dedicated service to the Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Imo State Gets New University
The Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, on Monday 20th October, 2025, issued a recognition letter for the establishment of a new Imo State University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Moma, Imo State,
African Centers of Excellence (ACE)
Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering and Development in Africa (AESEDA)
Linkages with Experts and Academics in Diaspora Scheme (LEADS)
Annual National Entrepreneurship Week (ANEW)
Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN)
Labour Market Observatory Project (LMOP)
Sustainable Procurement and Social Standards Enhancement Project (SPESSE)
Blueprint ICT Development Project














