Top 10 Best Universities To Study Medicine In Nigeria (2024)

This article is about the top 10 best universities to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria currently in this year 2024. The leading schools in Nigeria which are considered the very best when it comes to studying medicine and surgery are accredited medical schools that are going to be discussed in detail as we proceed in this post. We have outlined some of the best medical universities in Nigeria today and what makes them different from the rest.

The best medical universities in Nigeria today offer not just medicine and surgery alone but other accredited medical courses that science inclined students would love to study if it happens that they do not want to forge a career path as a medical doctor. With that said, it should be stated that majority of the science students in our secondary schools aspire to become medical doctors before anything else. It might take some time before they consider being engineers or pharmacists but that is not to say that these courses are in anyway inferior to medicine. It’s simply the way science students are wired in this part of the world.

The joy at the thought of wearing a white ward coat with a stethoscope hanging around one’s neck, and being respected as a life saver is enough motivation for science students to anticipate medical school even at their formative years in science class but if those thoughts end up as just mere thoughts without following them up by attending a good medical university in Nigeria, the dream of one becoming a medical doctor might never come true.

If you are a Great Nigerian Student and you are seeking a good medical school to attend in the country, what this post seeks to do is to broaden your horizon and make you see as far as possible as to which university is among the best in Nigeria where you can get quality education as regards medicine and surgery and some other related medical courses such as dentistry which may be of interest to you.

Studying medicine and surgery also exposes you to great job opportunities after school with the promise of a decent pay per month. Medical doctors salary structure in the country today is quite attractive and you start to earn immediately after graduation through housemanship and also during your NYSC as a youth corper doctor. This cannot be said for many other graduates in different fields of study in Nigeria at the moment.

Moreover, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Education has been putting in a lot of money into universities offering medical sciences in order to ensure that these schools are very well equipped and properly funded so as compete favourably with their counterparts on the continental and world stage, and not be left behind in the past while others are advancing forwards.

This should embolden prospective students who wish to take medicine and surgery, and other medical courses in these top schools listed in our article to do so with the assurance that these leading medical schools in Nigeria actually have what it takes to give them the needed educational training in the field of medical science.

So if you are an aspiring medical doctor and you are looking for the best medical schools in Nigeria or you searching for the best universities to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria today then this post is just for you. As we proceed in this article, we will be explaining about the best medical schools in Nigeria this year and we believe that this post will guide you into making the best decision for your medical career.

Let this be at the back of your mind that studying in any medical school in Nigeria is not a straightforward process as you will need to put in a lot of time, and focus in order to navigate six years of intense training before you are awarded a certificate. There are many universities offering medical courses in Nigeria, but are they well equipped to train medical doctors that meet international standards? Do you want to know what the best medical schools in Nigeria are currently? If yes, then the answers are given below for your perusal.

TOP 10 BEST UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY MEDICINE IN NIGERIA 2024 

The following are the 10 best and most popular medical schools in Nigeria currently in this year 2024:

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN (UI) 

The University of Ibadan is presently the best university to study medicine and surgery, and other medical related courses in Nigeria. It is also one of the best universities in Nigeria generally as well as a leading tertiary institution of learning in Africa. The well known University College Hospital, UCH Ibadan, a leading teaching hospital in Nigeria is owned and run by the University of Ibadan, and it trains highly skilled medical practitioners who value their jobs and human lives.

The school boasts some of the best medical infrastructure in Nigeria and it’s medical college sits on a large expanse of land to accommodate the growing number of medical students it accepts every year. It should be stated that medicine and surgery is one of the most highly competitive courses in Nigeria and prospective students must work hard and score really high marks at the JAMB UTME and post UTME to stand in good stead to be given provisional admission to study medicine at the University of Ibadan.

The College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan comprises of four faculties namely:

• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Clinical Sciences
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Public Health

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS (UNILAG) 

The College of Medicine, University of Lagos is also another top medical school in the country presently, and it is located at Idi-Araba, Surulere, away from the main campus in Akoka, Yaba. The school sits side by side with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, which gives medical students some of the best education on becoming good medical practitioners. This popular federal university that is located in Lagos State, one of the most educated States in Nigeria, is very well known for its excellent facilities and quality healthcare which LUTH provides.

Because this medical school is well equipped, the University of Lagos is one of the leading places where aspiring medical doctors can get quality training in becoming full time professionals in their field. Their school fees is also very affordable, and the surrounding environment is developed, making it a choice destination for many students in their quest to pursue their medical dreams. UNILAG’s medical syllabus is always updated.

The College of Medicine, UNILAG, has three faculties which are:

• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Clinical Sciences
• Faculty of Dental Sciences

UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN (UNILORIN) 

The University of Ilorin is one school that is known for academic excellence. It is one of the best universities in the South-Western geopolitical zone of Nigeria and because they rarely go on strike, they are rated as one of the best schools in the country also. One area of academics where they are very good at is medicine and surgery.

The College of Health Sciences at UNILORIN commenced teaching as the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin in the year 1977 but has since transformed into one of the best colleges of medicine Nigeria currently

The College of Health Sciences at the University of Ilorin comprises of two faculties which are:

• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Clinical Sciences

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY (OAU)

Another top medical university in the country is the College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). The school is known for highly employable medical practitioners and it is considered as one of the most competitive colleges of medicine in Nigeria. For any prospective medical student to be admitted here, they need to be academically sound and highly focused.

The College of Medical Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) comprises of four faculties which are:

• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Clinical Sciences
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Institute of Public Health

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY (ABU)

One of the oldest universities in Nigeria as well as one of the best schools to study medicine and surgery, and other related medical courses, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria is well equipped to give the best medical education there is out there. The school has some of the best medical infrastructure in Nigeria and is reportedly the most funded public tertiary institution in the country. The Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital owned and run by the school is one of the busiest hospitals in the country. At ABU, Zaria, the college of medicine boasts a total of 17 departments.

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA (UNN)

You cannot talk about the best medical schools in Nigeria currently without giving worthy mention to the school that bears the country’s name, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The college of medicine of the University of Nigeria trains students to study very hard so as to be well grounded in the medical profession.

The school’s teaching hospital, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, is one of the busiest and best in the country. College of Medicine, UNN also teaches Veterinary Medicine and has a Veterinary Teaching Hospital which caters for pets and other animals in Nigeria.

The College of Medicine at UNN boasts of 3 faculties and 20 departments and sub-departments. The faculties include:

• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Faculty of Health Science and Technology

LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY

The Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) is rightfully one of the best medical schools in Nigeria presently. Located in Ikeja, Lagos, the college has great medical infrastructure as well as a conducive environment for teaching medicine and other related courses. The school also has a teaching hospital which has state-of-the-art medical facilities to groom would be doctors and take care of patients properly.

The College of Medicine, LASU has 4 faculties which are:

• Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences
• Faculty of Clinical Sciences
• Faculty of Dentistry.

UNIVERSITY OF BENIN (UNIBEN)

The College of Medicine, University of Benin boasts of some of the most modern medical facilities and world-class medical experts who work round the clock to save lives at the hospital.

The college of medicine at the University of Benin boasts of 4 Schools of Medicine namely:

• Institute of Child Health
• School of Basic Medical Sciences
• School of Dentistry
• School of Medicine

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY (DELSU)

The Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Delta State University rightfully sits as one of the best in the country currently. It has a teaching hospital which specializes in medicine and surgery and other medical related courses such as radiology, community health, urology, psychiatry, to mention but a few.

The College has three faculties which are namely:

• Faculty of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Faculty of Family Medicine and Anatomy
• Faculty of Medicine

AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY (AAU)

Last but not the least on this list of top 10 best medical schools in Nigeria is the College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State. The school is blessed with very good facilities and a very conducive learning environment for medical students and just like the University of Ilorin, AAU, Ekpoma hardly goes on strike.

The College of Medicine at AAU, Ekpoma has 2 faculties which are:

• Basic Medical Sciences
• Clinical Sciences

Kindly note that a faculty houses several departments in a university.

DURATION FOR STUDYING MEDICINE AND SURGERY IN NIGERIA

In Nigeria today, the time duration for studying medicine and surgery in the university is six (6) years. Many universities in the country go by this time frame but there are some universities in the country that offer an accelerated 5-year undergraduate medical programme.

REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDYING MEDICINE AND SURGERY IN NIGERIA

Prospective university students for medicine and surgery in Nigeria are required to meet the following entry requirements: at least 5 credits in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English Language, and Mathematics in not more than two sitting at O level, and also scoring at least 280 and above in JAMB UTME to qualify for the Post UTME at any of the various schools offering medicine and surgery. Prospective students are advised to also score very high in the post UTME in order to get the admission into the university for medicine and surgery.

UNIVERSITIES THAT OFFER MEDICINE AND SURGERY IN NIGERIA PRESENTLY: FULL LIST

This is a comprehensive list of all universities that offer medicine in Nigeria currently as accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN):

FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES OFFERING MEDICINE IN NIGERIA

• University of Ibadan
• University of Benin
• Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto
• Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo
• University of Port Harcourt
• University of Lagos
• University of Nigeria, Nsukka
• Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
• Bayero University Kano
• Nnamdi Azikiwe University
• Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife
• University of Maiduguri
• University of Calabar
• University of Lagos
• University of Uyo
• University of Jos
• University of Abuja
• University of Ilorin.

STATE UNIVERSITIES OFFERING MEDICINE IN NIGERIA

• Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso
• Niger Delta University (NDU), Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa
• Ondo State University Of Medical Sciences Laje Road, Ondo, Ondo State
• Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun
• Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (AAU)
• Benue State University, Markurdi (BSU)
• Enugu State University of Science & Technology
• Gombe State University (GSU), Tudun Wada, Gombe
• Imo State University
• Kogi State University
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU)
• Delta State University
• Ebonyi State University
• Ekiti State University
• Kaduna State University
• Lagos State University
• Abia State University, Uturu
• Osun State University.

PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES OFFERING MEDICINE IN NIGERIA

• Bingham University
• Bowen University
• Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
• Igbinedion University, Okada
• Afe Babalola University
• Babcock University
• Madonna University.