Choosing the best university in Nigeria is crucial for students seeking academic excellence and career opportunities in their pursuit of higher education. As a burgeoning centre of education in Africa, Nigeria is home to numerous institutions that accommodate a wide range of academic disciplines.

Having assessed the most prestigious federal universities in Nigeria, the best Nigerian state universities, and Nigeria's top private universities, this article aims to provide an up-to-date ranking of the top 10+ overall best universities in Nigeria and assist prospective students and parents in making informed decisions.

With a focus on quality education, innovative research, and a conducive learning environment, these institutions have repeatedly demonstrated their dedication to academic excellence and are shaping the future educational landscape of Nigeria.

This is the definitive list of Nigeria's best universities, which continue to set the standard for higher education in the country. 

11. Lagos State University (LASU)

Ranked as Nigeria's second-best university in 2018 and 2021, only behind UI, and among the top 800 universities worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, Lagos State Universi­ty is the best state university in Nigeria.

Located in Ojo, Lagos State, with sub-campuses in Ikeja and Epe, it has been designated by the World Bank as an African Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education.

As one of the best universities in Nigeria, LASU graduates have the ninth-highest employment rate (58.49%) in the country, the highest among state universities, surpassing even UNILAG, indicating the marketability and employability of its graduates in a variety of industries.

Being less than 50 years old at the time, LASU, on June 23, 2021, was named the best young university in Nigeria, in recognition of its accomplishments and progress as an emerging institution. In fact, the majority of LASU's notable achievements have occurred in this decade. 

Expo 2023 in Abuja awarded the university first place in the Tertiary Institutions Science, Technology, and Innovation Category, recognising its contributions to scientific advancements and innovative research.

LASU was also awarded the prestigious 2022 Millennium Oceans Global Prize, beating out more than 200 universities from 53 countries.

Its students' aptitude and creativity in the literary arts was on showcase in 2023, when an undergraduate from the university won the Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Library (ZODML) poetry contest. 

A student of the university placed second for Africa Check's 2020 "Fact-Check of the Year by a Student Journalist," award before the faculty of the College of Medicine at LASU won the inaugural African Inter-Medical Students' Association (MSA) Quiz Competition in November 2022. 

The university received a $50,000 research grant from the Volvo Research and Educational Foundation (VRET) in 2023, bolstering its research initiatives and capabilities.

The success of two LASU students in the 2021 Don Etiebet Innovative Prize Award, sponsored by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), further emphasises the university's contributions to technological innovation and originality.

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2020, the university was ranked among the top 600 universities worldwide, further enhancing its reputation and global standing.

Away from the classroom, LASU won the inaugural African Students Football Union Soccer Tournament in 2019, indicating well-rounded sporting prowess and remarkable excellence transcending academics. 

10. Covenant University

Flag bearer and pacesetting poster boy of non-governmental tertiary institutions in the country, Covenant University, a private Christian institution in Ota, Ogun State, affiliated with Living Faith Church Worldwide, is the tenth best university in Nigeria. It is the first Nigerian institution to be ranked in the top 401–500 category of global universities by Times Higher Education.

Covenant University is a member of prestigious organisations such as the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the Association of African Universities, and the National Universities Commission, affiliations that demonstrate the university's dedication to upholding rigorous academic standards and fostering international collaborations.

The fact that graduates of Covenant University have the highest employment rate in Nigeria, at 83.7%, reflects the university's emphasis on providing students with marketable skills and knowledge.

By winning the 2020 edition of the PAADC robotics competition, the university demonstrated its dedication to fostering technological innovation and providing students with opportunities to excel in STEM fields. The university is the first institution of higher education in Africa to partner with Coursera for comprehensive blended learning.

In 2018, the World Bank designated Covenant University as an African Centre of Excellence in Applied Informatics and Communication, recognising the university's expertise and leadership in this specialised field. 

The university excelled in the inaugural CFA Institute Research competition, represented Nigeria on the international stage, and won the Nigeria Prestige Education Awards' award for Best Private University of the Year 2022.

In 2019 and 2020, the university emerged as the national champion of the Enactus Nigeria leadership and entrepreneurship competition, before Mary Oluwakanyinsola Owolabi of the institution was named the champion of the Future Creative Leaders Academy programme three years later.

Covenant University's commitment to academic excellence and compliance with regulatory standards has been recognised by the JAMB National Tertiary Admissions' Performance-Merit Award (NATAP-M Award) for 2020 and the JAMB Compliance Prize for 2022.

Covenant University places a heavy emphasis on religious values and principles, going to extreme lengths to ensure that students adhere to the faith of its president, David Oyedepo.

While Covenant University's page of "milestones" is impressive, it is important to note that some of its accomplishments may be difficult to independently verify or corroborate with external sources.

9. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)

With only two ASUU-imposed strikes since 2001, the University of Ilorin, a federal government-owned university located in Ilorin, Kwara State, has established itself as a university with a stable academic calendar, earning the JAMB merit award in 2020. It ranks ninth among Nigeria's best universities.

Graduates of UNILORIN have the fifth-highest employment rate in Nigeria (60.22%), indicating a high level of market demand and employability in a variety of industries.

UNILORIN demonstrated its dedication to research and innovation in agriculture and food in the 2022–2023 session, when two researchers from its engineering department secured a grant from Innovate UK for the 2022–2023 Africa AgriFood Knowledge Transfer Partnership (AAKTP). 

A 300-level accounting student from the university won the eighth iteration of the Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) Annual Tax Quiz, while at the 2019 North Central Zone Mathematics Quiz Competition, the university emerged as the overall champion, highlighting a strength in academics and its students' prowess in the various fields.

A veterinary student from the university won the 2021 Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) National Essay Competition on Fifth Generation (5G) Technology, demonstrating the institution's commitment to cutting-edge technology and its students' ability to excel in national competitions.

UNILORIN's intellectual competitiveness and prowess in inter-university competitions was on showcase in 2013 when it won the inaugural Prof. Bola Ikotun Annual Inter-University Quiz Competition. 

The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) awarded UNILORIN's Department of Jurisprudence and International Law $80,000 in 2020 in recognition of the department's research capabilities and contributions to the field of legal studies.

In 2020, the university won the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) competition organised by Scale Early, Rapidly, and Securely (SERS) of Carleton University, Canada, indicating a strength in the epoch-making world of AI. 

UNILORIN also exhibits excellence in legal education and proficiency in multimedia communication as in 2020, a student from the university won the inaugural International Bar Association (IBA) vlogging competition. 

The university won the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) 2023 colloquium proposal competition and the 17th Nigerian Medical Association (NiMSA) Games.

To imprint its status as one of the best universities in Nigeria, UNILORIN defeated 19 other universities to win the 2016 All-Nigeria Universities Debating Championship (ANUDC) and emerged as the winner of the inaugural Genesis Debate tournament held at the University of Ghana, Legon.

8. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)

Being the second-most sought-after university in the country, Ahmadu Bello University, a federal government research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State, is the sixth-best university in Nigeria. 

As Northern Nigeria's foremost tertiary institution, Ahmadu Bello University has had a significant impact on the country's political landscape, having produced the majority of Nigeria's ministers by the year 2021, to demonstrate its influence and contribution to the country's governance.

In 2017, the National University Commission ranked ABU as the best university in Nigeria, highlighting the institution's dedication to academic excellence and prominence among other institutions in the country. 

The university was recognised by the World Bank in 2018 as a Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education, as well as an African Centre of Excellence on Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology and an African Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE).

ABU received the second-highest amount of government funding from the 2023 budget, reflecting the government's recognition of the university's significance and commitment to supporting its research and academic endeavours.

The university's involvement in innovative initiatives, such as the development of a water-fueled vehicle manufactured in Nigeria, demonstrates its dedication to research and technological progress.

ABU has been successful in numerous competitions and events, winning the national championship in the 2022 Enactus leadership and enterprise development competition and representing Nigeria in the Enactus World Cup competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Five years prior, the university also claimed the 2017 Enactus National Championship, demonstrating its expertise in entrepreneurship and leadership development.

ABU placed second in the inaugural Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) colloquium proposal competition, and through a sophomore won the  Campus Journalist of the Year at the 2021 Campus Journalism Awards. 

As one of the best universities in Nigeria, ABU made history as the first institution to host an American football game in West Africa and the fifth in all of Africa, demonstrating the institution's dedication to promoting athletics and nurturing a diverse campus environment.

A team of ABU students represented Nigeria at the finals of the Global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Competition organised by Huawei Technologies, and won third place, demonstrating the university's technological prowess and its students' abilities on the international stage.

The university's students also won the 2023 International Student Project Competition conducted at the University of Life Sciences, King Mihai I, Timișoara, Romania. 

In addition to academia, ABU's conquest of the 2017 Olumide Oyedeji Intercollegiate Basketball Competition demonstrates the university's dedication to fostering and promoting athletic talent among its students.

7. Afe Babalola University (ABUAD)

With its Multi-System Teaching Hospital receiving high praise from prominent figures, such as the then-President Muhammadu Buhari, the former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, and the former President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engr. Isaac Olorunfemi. Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Afe Babalola University is the seventh-best university in Nigeria.

With its teaching facility being the first in Nigeria to conduct a successful open heart surgery, ABUAD, founded by Afe Babalola in 2009, is the premier private university in Nigeria. The university received recognition for its academic excellence when Daily Asset Newspapers named it the best university of 2017.

In 2021, ABUAD demonstrated its medical expertise and contribution to the improvement of healthcare services in the region by performing the first successful kidney transplant in the Ekiti/Ondo axis of the nation.

ABUAD also reached a significant milestone in the field of medical procedures by performing the first endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (EVAR) surgery in Nigeria in 2021, demonstrating its dedication to remaining at the vanguard of medical advances.

The Alper-Doger (AD) Scientific Index ranked ABUAD as the "Best Research University" among private universities in Nigeria and tenth among all 197 public and private universities, highlighting the institution's dedication to research and contributions to the advancement of knowledge.

Webometrics' 2018 classification of ABUAD as the top private university in Nigeria reinforces its reputation for academic excellence and outstanding performance in the private university sector.

Since its founding in 2009, the university has witnessed remarkable growth, acquiring the reputation of being the university in Africa with the highest rate of expansion. Its rise has been so meteoric that Afe Babalola, the university's visionary originator, bullishly predicted in 2018 that it would become Africa's premier university by 2020, highlighting its ambitious development plans.

The university's Dome Planetarium includes an astronomical observatory and one of the largest fixed planetariums in the world. This facility improves science education and research opportunities, contributing to the university's reputation as a scientifically distinguished institution.

ABUAD's participation in the regional finals of the 2017 Microsoft Imagine Cup exemplifies the institution's dedication to fostering technological innovation and empowering students in the field of technology.

6. Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA)

Having achieved a significant milestone in space technology with the manufacture of Nigeria Edusat-1, the first functional satellite produced by a Nigerian university, the Federal University of Technology Akure, renowned for its technological focus and practical education, is the fifth best university in Nigeria.

FUTA was globally recognised for its academic excellence in 2022, when the Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked it as the fifth best university in Nigeria. The institution has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to establish a world-class Department of Chemical Engineering that focuses on biofuels, bioethanol, and gas development, demonstrating a dedication to addressing national energy needs and fostering technological innovation.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), FUTA engineers have the chance to contribute their aircraft repair expertise.

Ganiyu Oboh, a professor of applied biochemistry at FUTA, was named Nigeria's top researcher by the 2021 Alper-Doger Scientific Index, a distinction reflecting the university's commitment to research and its influence on scientific progress.

As one of the best universities in Nigeria, FUTA has excelled at procuring research grants, as evidenced by its third-highest number of 2020 TETFund National Research Foundation (NRF) grants, which indicates the school's dedication to expanding the boundaries of knowledge and research.

FUTA's contribution to agricultural development is exemplified by the development of the high-yield tomato variety Eva F1 in 2020, which has a larger size, greater paste production, and a longer retail life.

Students from FUTA have excelled in technology competitions, winning gold at the 2019 national Blockchain Hackathon and emerging champions at the Imagine Cup National Finals, a prestigious technology competition sponsored by Microsoft Corporation.

Since 2013, the university has nurtured international collaborations, such as an exchange programme with Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) in the United States, which offers students opportunities for cross-cultural learning and knowledge exchange.

FUTA's extremely competitive admission process is best demonstrated by Funke Olanrewaju, the university's top graduating student in 2018, who took the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) multiple times before obtaining admission. 

Joining FUTA students in receiving international recognition for their research are professors such as Dr. Folashade Olajuyigbe, who was awarded the 2020 International Research Grant by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Research Programme (ICGEB-CRP) in Italy. 

In 2017, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDB) designated FUTA as the Centre of Excellence in Geology and Geophysical Studies, while May 2023 saw Abdulmalik Yusuf became the first African to receive the George Laird Merit Fellowship at the University of Delaware in the United States of America. 

To further demonstrate the entrepreneurial and technological abilities of its students, FUTA won the 2022 WEMA Bank Hackaholics competition, cementing its status as one of Nigeria's best universities.

5. University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)

Having graduated the first group of Nigerian-trained nuclear engineers in 2014, marking a significant milestone in the country's technological advancement, UNIPORT is the fourth-best university in Nigeria. The University of Port Harcourt, located in Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers States, Nigeria's 2nd-wealthiest state, received international recognition in 2015 when Times Higher Education ranked it sixth in Africa and first in Nigeria.

Also recognising the university's distinction, the World Economic Forum ranked it as the sixth-best university in Africa, placing it only secondary to prestigious institutions from South Africa and Uganda.

As one of the top universities in Nigeria, UNIPORT is best renowned for its athletic prowess having emerged victorious at the 14th West Africa Universities Games (WAUG) in 2018. In addition, the university has been the overall champion of the NUGA games for seven consecutive years as of 2022, demonstrating its dominance in intercollegiate athletic competitions.

Academically, UNIPORT maintains high standards, resulting in a competitive environment where approximately 1% of graduates achieve first-class honours, with the emphasis on excellence nurturing a culture of academic rigour and intellectual growth.

Prof. Peter James Kpolovie, a former director at the university, received global recognition when he was named the IARC Global Scientist of the Year 2021, thereby enhancing the university's global reputation for outstanding research and scholarship.

UNIPORT's dedication to intellectual discourse and debate was validated by its victory in the 2022 All Nigeria Universities Debate Championship, in which 30 universities competed.

The World Bank granted UNIPORT certifications in 2018 as a Centre for Oilfield Chemicals Research (CEFOR) and a Centre for Public Health and Toxicological Research (PUTOR) in recognition of its contributions to essential research disciplines.

While the University of Port Harcourt is recognised for its academic and athletic accomplishments, it is important to note that it operates in a difficult and occasionally volatile environment.

4. University of Lagos (UNILAG)

The University of Lagos is a prominent public research institution among the first-generation universities in Nigeria. Since its founding in 1962, it has consistently rated among the world's top universities in major education publications, solidifying its academic reputation as Nigeria's fourth-best university.

Among Nigerian universities, UNILAG has one of the largest student bodies, which is a testament to the institution's popularity and capacity to provide a quality education to a variety of individuals.

Along with being one of the best universities in Nigeria, UNILAG, as one of the twenty-five federal universities supervised and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), adheres to rigorous academic standards and operates within a recognised regulatory framework.

Notably, the university has gained recognition for its contribution to entrepreneurship education, as Forbes magazine ranked it as the third-best university in Africa for entrepreneurship in a 2020 publication, demonstrating its dedication to cultivating innovative and business-minded students.

In 2008, the Nigerian University System Annual Merit Award (NUSAMA) named UNILAG the best university in Nigeria, further attesting to its distinction in higher education.

As one of Nigeria's top universities, UNILAG has become a preeminent institution for postgraduate studies renowned for rigorous and competitive programmes.

This distinction contributes to the university's status as Nigeria's most expensive and competitive institution for postgraduate studies, attracting ambitious students pursuing advanced degrees.

As well as students, UNILAG boasts faculty accomplishments, as demonstrated in 2023 when Dr. Uju Ozoh, a pulmonologist and associate professor in the department of medicine, was awarded the prestigious World Lung Health Award, demonstrating the institution's commitment to innovative research and healthcare advancements.

In 2016, psychology student Ayodele Dada graduated with a perfect 5.0 cumulative grade point average, a feat that had never been accomplished in the history of the university. Also evident is the institution's dedication to research, as it received the second-highest number of 2020 TETFund National Research Foundation (NRF) grants.

In 2022, in collaboration with Nord Autos, UNILAG inaugurated the first auto assembly plant within an African university, demonstrating its emphasis on innovation and industry partnerships, and further exemplifying the institution's dedication to practical education and technological advancements.

In 2018, the World Bank recognised the University of Lagos as an African Centre of Excellence for Drug Research, Herbal Medicine Development, and Regulatory Science (ACEDRHMDRS), recognising its contributions to scientific research and advancements in healthcare.

Consistently, the university has secured ample government funding, as evidenced by its ranking as the institution receiving the third-most government funding from the 2023 budget.

It is also notable for being the first university in Nigeria to receive a licence to operate a television station, demonstrating its dedication to advancing communication and media education.

Students from UNILAG have excelled in numerous competitions, including the NMC's 2019 National Mathematics Competition and the Future Creative Leaders Academy (FCLA) advertising competition in 2021, where all three participants from the university took the top three places. In addition, a senior at the institution was named the EY Young Tax Professional of the Year 2023 (YTPY).

3. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

Being the country's leading producer of active developers, Obafemi Awolowo University, a university owned by the federal government and located in Ile-Ife, Osun State, is the second-best university in Nigeria. The founders of Jobberman, ToLet, CashEnvoy, and Gamsole, one of Africa's pioneering gaming companies, were students at OAU when they launched their respective enterprises. 

Abiola Olaniran, CEO of Gamsole and Nigeria's highest-paid Windows game developer, was a member of Team Indwell from OAU that won the national 2010 Microsoft Imagine Cup competition, demonstrating the university's success in cultivating talent and preparing students for success in the technology and gaming industries.

The World Bank certified OAU as an African Centre of Excellence in ICT-Driven Knowledge Park in 2018, recognising the university's expertise and leadership in ICT-driven knowledge and innovation.

OAU received the greatest number of 2020 TETFund National Research Foundation (NRF) grants among Nigerian universities and its graduates have the seventh-highest employment rate in Nigeria (59.3%), indicating their  high market demand and employability across a variety of industries.

Obafemi Awolowo University has accomplished remarkable academic and research feats, but it is necessary to recognise some obstacles. The instability and overall student experience at the university have been negatively impacted by its disorderly environment and inadequate security. These obstacles serve as enhancement opportunities for the institution to guarantee a safe and conducive learning environment.

2. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)

A prestigious federal institution with a long and illustrious history, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, located in Nsukka, Enugu State, is the country's first fully-fledged indigenous and autonomous university. A pioneer in higher education inspired by the American educational system, UNN is the second-best university in Nigeria. 

Chinua Achebe, widely regarded as the "father of African literature," held teaching and research positions at the university, contributing to its literary and intellectual legacy.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) bears the distinction of being the first land-grant university in Africa and has earned its position as one of Nigeria's best universities.

The Centre for Basic Space Research at the university is a one-of-a-kind institution in Africa that exemplifies the university's dedication to investigating scientific frontiers, is devoted to astronomy research, and offers undergraduate and graduate courses.

As one of the best universities in Nigeria, UNN has played a pivotal role in the advancement of healthcare in Nigeria. In 1974, it performed the first open-heart surgery in the country and sub-Saharan Africa, marking a significant milestone.

The university's Law Faculty has the distinction of being the oldest in Nigeria, having been founded in 1960. In addition, UNN is the first institution in Nigeria to have an independent department dedicated to electronics engineering, demonstrating its dedication to technological progress.

Consistently recognised for its academic excellence, the university was named Webometrics' top Nigerian university in 2016 and 2019.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has made substantial contributions to sustainable development and technological innovation in recent years.

The unveiling of Nigeria's first electric vehicle, the Lion Ozumba 551, manufactured from locally derived materials, demonstrates the university's dedication to environmental responsibility and technological progress. 

In 2019, the university constructed a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) gasification facility that will use organic waste to generate electricity, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices.

UNN's graduates have a high employment rate, second only to that of Covenant University; its business school is the first in Nigeria to graduate doctoral students; and it is the fourth most sought university in Nigeria.

The university has produced exceptional research scholars and achieved golden success in the 2022 Hon. Justice Innocent Umezulike Foundation National Moot Court Competition, Nigeria’s first live-virtual moot court competition, and the 2023 Jemila Abubakar Memorial Essay (JAME) award

Prof. Joseph Chemeka Achike Agbakoba of the university was awarded the 2022 Georg Forster Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany.

In 2022, Research.com ranked Prof. Christian Madu of the university as the best and highest-ranked research scholar in Nigeria.

A senior at the institution was crowned the victor of Big Break Moment Africa 2022, a reality television competition for talented undergraduates.

In addition, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka has received certifications and honours, such as being named an African Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Power and Energy Development by the World Bank in 2018 and receiving the most government funding in the budget for 2023.

1. University of Ibadan (UI)

The University of Ibadan, a public research institution with a prominent position in the continent's educational landscape, has acquired a reputation as the best university in Nigeria and one of the continent's most prestigious higher education institutions.

It was founded in 1948 and is the oldest degree-granting institution in Nigeria, making it a historically significant and esteemed institution.

As the only institution founded before Nigeria's independence in 1960, the University of Ibadan is distinguished by its protracted history, which contributes to its reputation for academic excellence and intellectual prowess.

Obafemi Awolowo Hall, the largest female hall in West Africa, stands on the university's campus as a symbol of its dedication to providing a conducive environment for its students.

In recent years, UI has received international acclaim for its exceptional performance. In 2016, it became the first Nigerian university to enter the top 1000 of the Times Higher Education rankings, solidifying its position as not only Nigeria's finest university, but also a globally renowned institution. According to Webometrics rankings, it also holds the peak position in the country.

Not only does the University of Ibadan excel in rankings, but it also maintains high academic standards and produces exceptional graduates.

With a highly competitive undergraduate admissions process, the institution accepts less than 7 percent of applicants, demonstrating its dedication to selecting the most intelligent students. In fact, the university celebrated a remarkable achievement in 2017 when, after 69 years, it produced its 1st First-Class history graduate.

Notably, along with three federal agriculture universities, the University of Ibadan is the only federal institution in Nigeria with no catchment area, demonstrating its commitment to merit-based admissions.

It has the finest economics and medicine divisions in the country, with the University College Hospital (UCH), where UI medical students are trained, ranked by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the best in West Africa and third in all of Africa.

As the best university in Nigeria, UI's postgraduate school is the largest in Africa, demonstrating its dedication to providing opportunities for advanced education and research.

Additionally, UI has received recognition for its participation in various competitions and contests, such as winning the 2016 Unilever Nigeria IdeaTrophy Undergraduate National Business Competition and the 2019 Tokunbo Orimobi Annual Moot Court Competition.

Moreover, the university has been lauded for its transparent admission process, as recognised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in 2021, having maintained admittance criteria for all candidates based on merit, catchment regions, and other factors.

Students at UI have excelled in a variety of disciplines, including winning the Mentors4Edu global e-learning challenge in 2019 and obtaining the third-highest employment rate among Nigerian graduates (61.76%).

The university's dedication to innovation and societal impact is demonstrated by its 2019 recognition at the PAADC for its use of robotics and artificial intelligence to solve societal issues.

To demonstrate their prowess as Nigeria's best university, UI's students won the 2022 Lagos State University Students' Union Intervarsity Debate and Nigeria's 'first-ever' literary competition for the deaf.