Economics is one of the most sought-after courses studied here in Nigeria by students. Every year, hundreds of thousands of Nigerian students gain admission into over 100 universities in Nigeria offering economics.

For one student that gains admission to study economics, hundreds of others are denied admission. This shows you

For one thing, there are interesting career opportunities for economists and everywhere in the world, economists are some of the most recognized professionals in the world after Engineers, Lawyers, and Medical professionals.

In Nigeria, economics is a good course to study. For intelligent, smart, and savvy students who study Economics, there are job opportunities especially, when they have some of the fourth industrial revolution technological skills.

If you are an admission seeker in Nigeria looking to study Economics, you have made a good decision.

In this post, I will show you some of the best universities in Nigeria where you can study economics - both private universities and government-owned universities.

Before we go to the list proper, you may want to know how to gain admission to study Economics in Nigeria?

Requirements to study economics in Nigerian universities

What are the requirements to study economics in Nigeria universities? To gain admission to study economics in Nigeria, you will need to meet both WAEC and JAMB requirements for admission.

WAEC requirements to study economics in Nigeria You’re required to have at least 5 credits in the required WAEC subject combination needed to study Economics in Nigeria universities.

These subjects to be combined are also applicable to other O’level exams such as NECO AND GCE.

The O level requirement or the required WAEC subject combination for Economics must at least include: English Language Mathematics Economics At least two other relevant courses preferably in Commerce, Government, and Accounting subjects A trade subject.

JAMB requirement to study economics in Nigeria If you want to gain admission to study economics at any university in Nigeria, make sure you score above 200 in your JAMB. If you score anything below, you may proceed to study economics in a university or college of education.

If you must study at a university, you may want to consider a Predegree program or JUBEB, IJMB and others. Here are the JAMB subject requirements for economics: Economics Mathematics Any of Government, History, Geography, Lit-in-English, French, and CRK/IRK.

Please note that these requirements vary from universities to universities and there is a need to visit your brochure to know the JAMB subject combination for economics. How many years does it take to study economics in Nigeria? It takes four years to study economics generally in most universities in Nigeria.

Depending on the school calendar, strike actions, and other factors that are outside of the school, it may take four years more or less to study economics in Nigeria.

That is why you need to study economics in the best university for economics in Nigeria. Is economics a good course? Yes, economics is a good course in Nigeria.

Like I said earlier, for one thing, there are interesting career opportunities for economists and everywhere in the world, economists are some of the most recognized professionals in the world after Engineers, Lawyers, and Medical professionals.

In Nigeria, Economic is a good course to study. For intelligent, smart and tech-savvy students who study Economics, there are job opportunities especially, when they have some of the fourth industrial revolution technological skills.

Top 10 economists in Nigeria

There are so many successful Nigerian economics both in Nigeria and in the diaspora.

Below is a list of just a few of economists in Nigeria:

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Tony Elumelu

Charles Soludo

Oby Ezekwesili

Nike Akande

Herbert Wigwe

Ada Osakwe

Sarah Alade

Alex Otti

Umaru Mutallab

Now, below is a list of the best universities for economics in Nigeria.

Please note that this list has not been written in any particular order.

1.COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTTA

Covenant University is arguably one of the best universities in Nigeria. The school has in recent times achieved remarkable excellence, especially in the area of research.

The school has produced some of the brightest young Nigerians who now occupy various positions in different great organizations in Nigeria and beyond.

Though still a very young school compared with other universities in Nigeria that are owned by the government, CU is the leading private university in Nigeria and is giving public universities in Nigeria, a run for their monies. Economics is under the college of Business Studies in the school.

College of Business Studies is one of the founding colleges of the school at inception in 2002. The school’s department of economics has since waxed stronger and has continued to achieve excellence.

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, LAGOS

The University of Lagos, popularly known as Unilag is one of the most-sought after universities in Nigeria.

With Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria playing host to the university, Unilag benefits from Lagos’ huge population, and every year over 50,000 candidates seek admission into the university of the first choice.

The location of Unilag among other things sets it apart from other universities in Nigeria.

Being located in the heart of Lagos city, a city that never stops, where everything happens in Nigeria, Unilag students are exposed to various opportunities, information, and privileges than their counterparts in a school located outside of Lagos may enjoy.

Most importantly, Unilag is one of the best schools in Nigeria according to reputable ranking bodies in recent years. In fact, Unilag is among the most ranked top three best schools in Nigeria of all time.

In 2020, University is the best university in Nigeria. The school has many alumni who studied economics are now successful economics in the global scene.

3.UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

Located in the city of firsts in Nigeria – Ibadan in 1948, the University of Ibadan is incidentally the very first university ever to be established in Nigeria.

The University of Ibadan is the second-best university in Nigeria and one of the best schools for Engineering in Nigeria in 2020 according to the World University Rankings.

The school is known for retaining the highest number of Professors and emeritus professors and some of the most prominent Nigerians as their alumni.

Little wonder the school is one of the best universities for economics in Nigeria.

4.OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ILE-IFE

Obafemi Awolowo University is definitely one of the best schools for economics to make this list. The school is arguably one of the best universities in Nigeria.

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), formerly known as the University of Ife, is a federal government-owned and operated Nigerian university. The university is in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife by the regional government of Western Nigeria, led by late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and was renamed Obafemi Awolowo University on 12 May 1987 in honour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo (1909–1987), the first premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, whose brainchild the university was.

Over the year, Obafemi Awolowo University has produced notable men and women who are successful in economics in Nigeria and beyond.

5.UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA

The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu, and Ituku-Ozalla – all located in Enugu State and Aba campus in Abia State.

The University of Nigeria was the first full-fledged indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria, modeled upon the American educational system. It is the first land-grant university in Africa and one of the five most reputed universities in Nigeria.

The university has 15 Faculties and 102 academic departments. The University offers 108 undergraduate programs and 211 postgraduate programmes.

6.UNIVERSITY OF BENIN

The University of Benin is one of the most reputable Universities in Nigeria. The school is a public university in Nigeria that was established in 1970.

The school is one of the best universities to study Economics in Nigeria.

7.UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN

The department of economics in this university has a long history, it was established in 1977. All the economic courses refer to the faculty of Social Sciences.

The university pays much attention to economic education, so there are the best lecturers who can give qualitative knowledge in this field. The school is one of the best universities you can study economics here in Nigeria.

8.NNAMDI AZIKWE UNIVERSITY

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka also called UNIZIK or NAU, in short, is a Federal university in Nigeria. It consists of four campuses in Anambra State.

Its main campus is located in the capital of Anambra State, Awka while three other campuses are located in Nnewi , Agulu, and Ifite-Ogwali, Anambra State. The school has a department of Cooperative Economics and management.

9.BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

Bayero university is one of the leading institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and one of the best universities in the northern part of Nigeria.

The school offers economics courses at the faculty of Social and Management Sciences. It maintains an emphasis on the need for reflective thinking skills as well as the need to advocate democratic ideals and social justice.

10.AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, ADO EKITI

Afe Babalola University Ado is the second private university in this list of best schools to study economics in Nigeria.

The school is one of the best universities in Nigeria and in recent times, the school has been in the rankings as one of the best universities in Nigeria.

Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), a Federal Government-licensed, Non-Profit Private University is a model that is unique in many ways. The school has economics and management studies as one of the departments under the College of Social and Management Sciences.

The is the only university in Nigeria, which prior to the issuance of a provisional license by the Federal Government of Nigeria, moved to its permanent site and constructed magnificent College buildings and College Hostels, Staff Quarters, and equipped with modern teaching facilities including E-learning platform and electronic boards within eight months.