Best Universities to Study Economics in Nigeria

There is no official ranking of economics programmes in Nigeria — but the strongest choices are consistently the universities with established economics departments, full NUC accreditation, strong faculty (including research-active staff), and competitive departmental cut-offs. The institutions below are those most consistently mentioned for economics, grouped by departmental strength, not ranked in order. Verify accreditation for the session you apply in.

Economics is judged on faculty depth and analytical training more than on facilities: econometrics, quantitative methods, and research training shape the graduate’s employability — in banking, policy, consulting, data analysis, and academia — more than any single facility does.

How to judge an economics programme

• NUC accreditation: full accreditation for the programme, for the session. Verify, do not assume.
• Faculty and curriculum: faculty specialisation (microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, development economics, monetary economics, and more), curriculum currency (quantitative methods, data analysis, and research training), and research output.
• Quantitative training: econometrics and statistics teaching, software exposure (statistical packages, as the programme provides them), and research-project requirements. Economics without quantitative training is not economics — check the curriculum, not just the brochure.
• Departmental cut-off: economics cut-offs run high at the most competitive institutions (approaching the top of their ranges, as reported). Meeting the institution minimum is not enough.
• Programme structure: BSc Economics runs 4 years, plus SIWES as the programme structures it. Confirm the structure for the session you apply in.

Institutions most consistently mentioned for economics

University of Ibadan (UI) — Department of Economics, Ibadan. Longest economics tradition in Nigeria, strong research faculty, competitive cut-offs.

University of Lagos (UNILAG) — Department of Economics, Akoka, Lagos. Strong faculty, Lagos financial-market and policy proximity, competitive cut-offs.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife — Department of Economics, Ile-Ife. Established department, strong quantitative tradition, competitive cut-offs.

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) — Department of Economics, Nsukka. Established department, broad specialisation.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria — Department of Economics, Zaria. Major northern economics department.

Covenant University, Ota — Department of Economics and Development Studies, Ota. Private university with strong economics infrastructure and (typically) stable calendars, at private fees.

University of Benin (UNIBEN) — Department of Economics and Statistics, Benin City. Established department, competitive cut-offs.

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) — Department of Economics, Ilorin. Consistently competitive, with a reputation for stable academic calendars.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka — Department of Economics, Awka. Established department, competitive cut-offs.

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) — Department of Economics, Kano. Major northern economics department.

Related Guides & Next Steps

• Admission Requirements for Nigerian Universities
• How to Choose a University in Nigeria
• How University Admission Works in Nigeria
• Best Universities to Study Medicine in Nigeria
• Best Universities to Study Business Administration in Nigeria

Frequently asked questions

Which university is best for economics in Nigeria? There is no official ranking. UI, UNILAG, OAU, and UNN are the most consistently mentioned, on faculty depth and research tradition — but “best” for you depends on your score, your budget, and the quantitative training the specific programme provides. Verify accreditation and curriculum for the session.

How many years is economics in Nigeria? BSc Economics runs 4 years, plus SIWES as the programme structures it. Confirm the structure for the session you apply in.

What UTME subjects do I need for economics? English, Mathematics, Economics, and one other Social Science subject (as the brochure states for the course and institution — check the brochure for the session, as subject requirements vary by institution).

What jobs can I get with an economics degree? Banking and finance, central banking and policy, consulting, data analysis, development work, academia, and public service — with quantitative and data skills widening the range. The degree opens doors; quantitative training and internships determine how far they open.

Should I study economics or a related course (accounting, business administration, statistics)? Economics suits policy, analysis, and research careers; accounting suits chartered accountancy and audit; business administration suits general management; statistics suits data and quantitative careers. Choose by the career you want, and check each course’s curriculum and professional links before deciding.

Sources and last update

• Institution shortlist (UI, UNILAG, OAU, UNN, ABU, Covenant, UNIBEN, UNILORIN, UNIZIK, BUK) from departmental-history and faculty reporting, grouped by strength, not ranked — no official ranking is asserted.
• Accreditation (NUC), 4-year BSc structure, and quantitative-training emphasis from programme guidance as reported, with per-session verification directed.

Last updated: 24 October 2026. Guide — review every 3–6 months and on every NUC accreditation update.