Top 10 Best Universities To Study Nursing In Nigeria (2025)
In this article, we will be discussing about the top 10 best universities to study nursing, also known as nursing science in Nigeria this 2025. These universities are different from outright schools of nursing in the country but what binds all of them together is that you can study this course at any one of these educational institutions to earn your nursing degree based on your preference. If you want to know more about the best schools of nursing in Nigeria today, kindly click the link for more information on that.
Nursing or nursing science is one of the most competitive courses in Nigeria currently. It is also one of the most prestigious medical or health related courses in the country as well, and prospective students wishing to major in this discipline must ensure that they are highly cerebral and have what it takes to keep up with the demands and high standards that this course entails, seeing that it involves a lot of care giving and the saving of human lives.
Apart from medicine and surgery, engineering, pharmacy, accountancy, etc, many people also consider nursing science as a very important course, that is why it is no surprise to see a large number of prospective students filling the course in their JAMB forms and applying to many of the top schools in the country that offers this discipline.
Also, a side attraction to studying nursing in the country is that nurses salary structure in Nigeria is respectable, meaning that getting employed as a nurse upon graduation from the university especially in federal medical centres and teaching hospitals command attractive pay, so one really has a good future to look forward to once they are done with their studies and they proceed to pursue their nursing career at the very best hospitals in the country.
With that said, it is important to note that some of the very best schools where people study this course are considered as recruitment factors by employers as only the best hands are needed for the job, and for this reason, we have compiled a list of the top 10 ranking universities in the country where nursing can be studied. They are discussed below.
TOP 10 BEST UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY NURSING/NURSING SCIENCE IN NIGERIA 2025
The following schools are the 10 best universities to study nursing/nursing science in Nigeria this 2025 in no particular order:
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA (UNN)
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is the first indigenous university in the country, and one of the oldest universities in Nigeria. It was established in 1955, the year of our country’s independence from Great Britain. The main campus of the school is located in Nsukka Town, Enugu State, while its second campus is situated in Enugu, the Capital City of Enugu State.
The Nursing Science Department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka is under the College of Health Sciences and Technology. The Department offers a five-year standard degree B.Sc. Nursing programme for JAMB entrance candidates. Successful candidates will earn a Bachelor of Science Honours degree. He/she emerges as a professional polyvalent nurse capable of applying scientific principles to the nursing care of individuals and groups of all ages in a variety of settings.
The educational standard at UNN is very high and this can be attested to by many people in the country today and as such, deciding to study nursing science at UNN is a significant boost for your employability status once you have successfully graduated. Employment opportunities for the graduates abound in the community and clinical practice areas like schools, health centres, industries, hospitals for clinical practice in primary, secondary and tertiary health institutions.
UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS (UNILAG)
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is one of the leading universities in Nigeria where you can study and earn your degree in nursing/nursing science. This school is widely recognized by many people across the nation as one of the best in the business academically and since their establishment, they have continually held on to academic excellence which has helped to produce some of the best graduates in their chosen fields.
The nursing science programme at the University of Lagos came into effect in the year 2010, and it was a unit under the Department of Medicine in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences until it became approved by the Senate as a full fledged Department in its own right, fully functioning in 2011.
The vision of the Department of Nursing at the University of Lagos is to pursue excellence in knowledge through innovative learning and research, encouraging the effective interaction of Staff and students in order to produce graduates in this field that are well grounded to compete favourably with their counterparts at national and international level.
The curriculum at UNILAG currently offers two types of admissions, one for the generic students and the second for direct entry students. This leads to the award of a Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc) degree:
- A 5-year B.N.Sc curriculum for those students with no prior Registered Nurse certificate, and
- A 4-year programme for those Registered Nurses wishing to pursue a baccalaureate.
In the 4th and 5th year of the programme, students with no Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Midwife (RM) certificates will be prepared to take the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) Licensing Examinations to enable them practice as Registered Nurses and Midwives (RN/RM). At the 5th year also, students will take the Public Health Nursing (PHN) Examination.
Upon completion of these programmes, graduates are expected to be professionally competent generalists in nursing who recognize the need for continued personal and professional development throughout life and possess the educational background for post-baccalaureate study in Nursing. If you want to study nursing as your chosen course, UNILAG should be on your list of top schools to apply for.
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN (UI)
Another one of the very best universities to study nursing at is the University of Ibadan. The school is almost every one’s dream for studying any course because of their high academic standards. At the University of Ibadan, the nursing science programme teaches nursing students the practical ways to care for individuals in the various sectors of society. The school is a very competitive university and as such, only the best students are admitted to study nursing. The institution awards a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing upon the successful completion of the course after five (5) years.
UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN (UNILORIN)
The University of Ilorin is another top school of choice as far as nursing is concerned in Nigeria today. At the University of Ilorin, the Nursing Department is under the College of Health Sciences and the programme offers liberal or general and professional education for nurses who will be able to utilize psycho-social and physical factors in health promotion, health maintenance and of health restoration. The programme also prepares the graduate nurse to think effectively, to communicate thoughts and to discriminate among values.
At the University of Ilorin, the nursing science programme prepares Polyvalent Nurse Practitioners who are capable of performing nursing skills in a variety of settings, therapeutically assisting individuals, family and Community with diverse backgrounds and health problems to attain optimal health.
The programme furthermore, prepares nurse-practitioners who are capable of relating the role of health services to the broader social system and who will be engaged in lifelong and self-directed learning. Studying at this school will broaden your knowledge in nursing sciences and if it is your preferred school of choice, we advise that you go for it.
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE IFE (OAU)
The nursing science department at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is under the College of Health Sciences. This department was established in order to inculcate in nursing students an excellent understanding of how the nursing profession works so they they will be well equipped with the necessary skills to provide quality healthcare in all sectors of society. A list of your school of choice for nursing or nursing science without the Obafemi Awolowo University is incomplete.
BOWEN UNIVERSITY IWO (BUI)
Bowen University was established in 2001. It is a private university in Nigeria that is committed to providing high quality for all students in the most cost-effective, reasonable, and proper moral education community. Bowen University is a Christian institution that fully adheres to the long tradition of the Baptist Church, with their core values being honesty, academic excellence, professionalism, character, God, and leadership.
Following the Baptist’s traditions of ethical behavior, social responsibility, and democratic spirit, the university is designed as an outstanding learning and research centre, adhering to a God-fearing fearing attitude and combining academic excellence with a love for humanity.
The B.Sc Nursing is an undergraduate course at the Bowen University that is a fundamental study of basic health needs, nursing processes and continual health promotion. It equips students with diverse skills related to the areas of disease prevention, surgical asepsis, wound care, physical well-being, safety, fluids and nutrition, personal hygiene, mobility, elimination, rest, oxygenation, medication administration and therapies.
The course also covers the application of nursing processes and clinical judgment to promote health in a childbearing family during the process of reproduction, pregnancy, labour, delivery and the postpartum periods. Graduates of Nursing address patients’ safety, provide efficient patient-centred care, and make important clinical decisions in any medical environment.
With your understanding and patient-relationship skills, you can contribute significantly to health care delivery. The programme will enable you to be efficient in health promotion, as well as therapeutic interventions for complicated health problems. By completing the course, you will develop competencies in the theoretical and technical aspects of nursing practice aimed towards preventive, curative and restorative care.
Because Bowen University is privately owned, it is quite more expensive than the federal and state universities in the country that offer nursing and we thought to let you, our readers know. Other than that, the school is very good and should be considered when you want to study this course.
NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA (NAU)
Nnamdi Azikiwe University offers a five-year undergraduate programme leading to Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science (BNSc). The programme discusses basic Nursing Philosophy, basic health needs, Nursing processes, disease prevention among others. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCM) is the Regulatory body that controls the training and practice of these nurses.
The Nursing Science programme of Nnamdi Azikiwe University is anchored on a strong theoretical foundation of liberal and professional education leading to a Bachelors degree and providing the basis for clinical skills development and evidence-based practice with commitment to lifetime continuing professional development.
The Department further believes in the provision of promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services that are relevant to the health care needs of individuals, families and communities, recognizing the current societal demands for quality health care requiring dynamic and innovative approaches to the preparation of prospective nursing professionals.
The Nursing Science programme at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka is an integrated educational programme for the purpose of preparing nursing professionals capable of providing general nursing, midwifery and community health nursing services including psychiatry on graduation and able to pursue higher degree programme in nursing. They should articulate the attributes and capabilities required of anybody having such qualifications.
LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY (LASU)
The Lagos State University, Ojo is among the best tertiary institutions in the country offering nursing science. The vision of the Lagos State University regarding its nursing science department is to make it a world class Nursing Department in a world class College of Medicine and University; and be a premier leader in cutting edge research, modelling standards in educational innovation and transforming health care now and in the future.
The school’s mission is to meet the needs of an ever changing health care system; delivering excellent academic programme with research innovation to advance Nursing Science education, prepare top grade skilled clinicians who will provide evidence-based nursing care and transformational leadership within an interdisciplinary team to improve health, both nationally and globally.
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA (ABU)
The Department of Nursing at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has been at the forefront of Nursing Education in Northern Nigeria, leading the way in the development of Baccalaureate, Master of science (MSc), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Nursing programmes.
It is accredited by the National University Commission, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as well as the West African Health Board (WAHEB). Learning at the Nursing Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria extends far beyond the classrooms, laboratories, and libraries, and students are made to understand that; Nursing is a self-regulated profession.
Nurses are responsible and accountable for providing competent and ethical practice to their clients, the public, their colleagues, and themselves. Nurses have a professional responsibility to continuously seek to improve their practice through critical self-reflection, scholarship, research, and innovation. Studying nursing at this school is a dream come true for many.
UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, CHOBA (UNIPORT)
The last but not the least university to study nursing in our list is the University of Port Harcourt. This school is well equipped to train Nigerian nurses according to 21st century standards and they continue to improve with the passage of time. If you are in the south-south geological zone of Nigeria and you want to consider studying nursing science, as a prospective student, UNIPORT wouldn’t be a bad idea. Think about it.
