Top 10 Best International Relations Universities In Nigeria (2024)

This article is about the top 10 best International Relations Universities in Nigeria this 2024 so as to enlighten you our esteemed readers on which top tertiary education institution to attend if you feel the need to study this particular course in any part of country. The course International Relations is a broad, interdisciplinary university programme that spans certain aspects of political science, history as well as international studies. It is the study of the interactions between sovereign states. This course also touches certain aspects of humanities and the social sciences for it to be very well understood.

International Relations as a discipline exposes the students to in-depth knowledge on diplomacy, economics, global affairs, politics, international policies, law, to mention but a few, and a graduate of this discipline has a very huge opportunity to earn a really great salary as it affords them the opportunity to work in government parastatals and top international organizations such as embassies, consulates, as well as global bodies such as intergovernmental and international non intergovernmental organizations where their services are needed. With that said, we will now proceed to highlight and discuss the leading and most popular universities in Nigeria where you can study international relations. Do kindly continue reading.

TOP 10 BEST UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN NIGERIA 2024 

The following are the 10 best ranking universities to study international relations in Nigeria this 2024 in no particular order:

COVENANT UNIVERSITY

Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State is a leading university that offers international relations in Nigeria. At this tertiary education institution, there is a Department of Political Science and International Relations, which is one of the three departments that make up the College of Leadership Development Studies. PSI as a Department emerged in October 2002. It has changed in name a couple of times. In the beginning, it was known as Department of Strategic Studies (DSS). In the 2005/2006 academic session, it metamorphosed into Department of Policy and Strategic Studies (DPSS).

As the University expanded, a need arose to split the department into two and in the 2007/2008 session, there emerged Department of Political Science (DPS) and Department of International Relations and Strategic Studies (DIRSS). A year after the split, specifically in the 2008/2009 academic session, there was a return to status quo as the programmes hitherto separated were merged into a single department once again. The re-merger culminated in what is currently known today as the Department of Political Science and International Relations (DPSI or PSI Department).

The Department is the centre of policy thinking and research at the school, as well as the epicentre from which sound ideas, discourses and political constructs for nation building emerge. These, coupled with the fact that the school runs International Relations, one of the flagship programmes in the University, makes Covenant University a leading citadel of knowledge in this field in Nigeria today.

AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY

Another leading school in Nigeria where you can study International Relations is the Afe Babalola University. This private school is one of the best in Nigeria and their Department of International Relations and Diplomacy stands out. The department is under the College of Social and Management Sciences (SMS), which happens to be one of the founding colleges at the school. A degree in International Relations and Diplomacy at Afe Babalola University provides students with the requisite knowledge and analytical skills that they need to make sense of happenings around the world, thrive in any work environment, and make impact in the society.

The inclusion of Diplomacy distinguishes this course from all other courses of its kind in the country, as such students are equipped with diplomatic skills and prepared for career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International organizations, and Ambassadorial positions. As ambassadors-in-training, students of the university, have multiple opportunities every year to participate in the Model United Nation (MUN) programme which helps them understand the workings of the United Nations.

As a totality of human activities and a distinct field of academic study, International Relations and Diplomacy at Afe Babalola University is an all-encompassing discipline that cuts across all human endeavours. Hence, students take core sets of courses in the departments of Economics and Political Science. Students at the school are exposed to theories and also gain first-hand knowledge through their academic field trip to different countries which quip them with the required skills and worldview to function effectively in a globalized world.

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife is yet another school to consider if you want to study International Relations in Nigeria. Their department of International Relations and Diplomacy is part of the Faculty of Administration. This Department was formerly a postgraduate unit designed for research and administration while under the former Institute of Administration. It was later upgraded to the statue of a full department in its own right in the year 1976, effectively ensuring that it became the first department of International Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The International Relations department at Obafemi Awolowo University was established as a result of the need for more research and knowledge of international affairs in the country. This was made all the more important by the increasing role of Lagos and Abuja in diplomatic affairs and how our country played a leading role in the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1975.

The Department of International Relations at this university prioritizes teaching and research programmes to aid learning. This department is a famous consultancy centre for institutes both home and abroad, and many of their alumni are doing well for themselves in all spheres of life.

LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY 

Lead City University is another top ranking educational institution that offers International Relations. The department is known fully as the Department of History and International Relations at the University, and it forms part of the Faculty of Environment, Social and Management Sciences. International Relations at this school is accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and it is the objective of the school to be a centre of excellence as far as this discipline is concerned.

At Lead City University, the department of International Relations impacts students with the necessary skills to excel in the field through technology, quality teaching, optimal access to data, state-of-the-art computer facilities, e-Library, audiovisual aids and other student-friendly course materials. It is very compulsory at the school for all its students to register for and pass at least one professional or vocational trade examination during the duration of their study there. The facilities and structures already put in place by the school increases the chances of their students to find meaningful jobs both locally and internationally once they have graduated.

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

Without a doubt, the University of Benin makes this list. They are a top school that ranks for almost every discipline, and International Relations is not left out. The Department of History and International Relations at the University of Benin was founded to impart knowledge of historical happenings around the world so that its students can understand international affairs and developments both locally and internationally. The aim of the department is to broaden the scope of the students through the interdisciplinary nature of the discipline with a proper understanding of history considered as an essential part of a nation’s development process, hence its inclusion as an integral part of studying this course at UNIBEN.

The Department of History and International Relations at the University of Benin prioritizes research in its teaching procedures in order for its students to become self-reliant and be able to excel in whatever sphere of life that they find themselves in. The department also puts into cognizance the need to produce versatile historians who are experts in international relations so they can contribute to national and international development. If you have chosen UNIBEN as your choice university for the study of International Relations, you have indeed chosen wisely.

GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY

The Department of History, International Studies and Diplomacy is under the Faculty of Arts at The Godfrey Okoye University Enugu. At this school, International Relations is studied along with History and the students can grow through coursework, library research, guided tours of heritage sites, original research into approved themes, free university lectures and word-listing as the technology for competence.

This programme can provide rounded citizens that accept advanced democratic culture. After training, the students will feel very much at home in the world of work where variety, creativity, competence, and education move nations on and up. Graduates from the Department of History, International Studies And Diplomacy at the Godfrey Okoye University can be employed as lecturers, political consultants. They can also gain employment at embassies and consular offices.

CALEB UNIVERSITY

Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State is yet another school in Nigeria where you can conveniently study International Relations. This private university houses this discipline under The Department of Political Science and International Relations, and it is one of the best schools in the country that is reliable and trusted to give you the best as far as this discipline is concerned.

ODUDUWA UNIVERSITY

Another top ranking university in the country to study International Relations is the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Osun State. This private university offers quality lectures that prepare the students for life after school at the various national and international organizations that will be needing their services once they have graduated and served their fatherland. The Department of International Relations at Oduduwa University is housed under the College of Management Sciences.

OBONG UNIVERSITY

The philosophy of International Relations at Obong University is to produce graduates who will be able to contribute effectively to national development as well as the understanding of its international dimensions. The B.Sc. Degree in International Relations at this school aims at serving a number of inter-related objectives which include: To train students who will be equipped to analyse and undertake research on international affairs, and to develop a critical outlook on questions relating to the theory and practice of political activities at the level of international society as well as strategic and economic matters at the international level. This top private university in Nigeria, located in Akwa Ibom State, with foreign affiliations, is yet another choice destination for the study of International Relations in the country.

LANDMARK UNIVERSITY

The last but not the least in our list of top 10 best universities to study International Relations in Nigeria today is Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State. The course is under the Department of Political Science And International Relations and the vision of the Department is to raise well-equipped solution providers, leaders and reformers that will resolve the multifarious concerns/issues besetting our world. To serve as a policy think-tank in driving the agrarian revolution of the University. Studying this course at this school is something of a dream come true.