Anambra State has topped the list of states with the highest number of universities in South-East, The RAZOR can authoritatively report.
This is according to data obtained from the National Universities Commission.
The NUC regulates activities in Nigerian universities, including accreditation of institutions and courses among others.
According to the data, Nigeria currently has a total of 219 universities -49 federal universities, 59 owned by state governments and 111 private universities.
According to the NUC data: Abia has six universities; Ebonyi (4); Enugu (6); (Imo (7)
Technically, 10 universities exist in Anambra State, out of which 7 are private universities of which majority of them belong to the mission.
Below are the universities in Anambra State.
1)Nnamdi Azikiwe University is located in Awka, the capital of Anambra State.
Established in 1991, the university has multiple campuses in Awka, Nnewi, Agulu and Ifite-Ogwuari in Ayamelum local government area.
As a federal university, it is accredited by the National Universities Commission and named after Nnamdi Azikiwe, a renowned Nigerian statesman and political leader who served as the first President of Nigeria until 1966.
The university has a total of about 57 departments, spread across 14 faculties including the faculties of agriculture, arts, basic medical sciences, biosciences, education, engineering, environmental sciences, health sciences and technology, law, management sciences, medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, physical sciences and social sciences.
2) Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University formerly Anambra State University was established by law No. 13 of 2000 by the Anambra State Government and has a two-campus structure. The main campus of the university is located at Uli, in the former site of the Ekwenugo Okeke Polytechnic, formally called Anambra State Polytechnic. The second campus is located at Igbariam in the former site of the College of Agriculture. The law establishing the university phased out the State Polytechnic and the university inherited its assets and liabilities.
On the other hand, the university law failed to repeal the Edict establishing the College of Agriculture, Igbariam, hence, legally the university and the college existed side by side at the Igbariam Campus site, until 2006 when the government relocated the College of Agriculture to Mgbakwu, about fifteen kilometers away from Igbariam.
On 11 September 2014, the university was changed to its current name after a bill was passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly with the aim of immortalizing Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a politician and leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra.
3)Madonna University
Madonna University is a private Catholic institution located in Okija, Anambra State. It was established in 1999 by Fr. Emmanuel Edeh with the goal of providing holistic education to students. The university offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fields such as Law, Engineering, Pharmacy, Management, and Health Sciences.
4)Paul University
Paul University is owned by the Anglican Communion, East of the Niger, comprising of fifty-five dioceses in Onitsha, Calabar, Owerri, Enugu and others.
Paul University started as a primary school, then, to secondary school to college of education, and now, a full-fledged university.
It was a college for training of teachers and catechists. Later in 2009, approval was given to the institution by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to establish a university starting with the first degree.
5)Tansian University
Tansian University is a private institution located in Umunya, Anambra State. Established in 2007, the university was founded by the late Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam, a renowned Catholic priest and educationist and named after Rev. Fr Tansi ,a Catholic priest From Aguleri in Anambra State. Tansian University offers bachelor’s degree programs in areas such as Natural and Applied Sciences, Social Sciences, Management, and Arts.
6Legacy University
. Legacy University, Okija Anambra State:
Legacy University established in 2016 was founded by Dr Leonard Nkameme. A private institution situated in Okija, Anambra State. The university aims to provide quality education that meets global standards. Legacy University offers undergraduate programs across various fields, including Natural and Applied Sciences, Arts and Humanities, and Social sciences)
7)Peter University
. Peter University, Achina-Onneh Anambra State:
Peter University, Achina/Onneh is a university under the joint ownership of the Catholic Dioceses of Awka and Ekwulobia in Anambra.
The university was established in 2020 and offers undergraduate programs in fields such as Business Administration, Computer Science, Political Science, and Economics.
8)University on the Niger
University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra state: The University on the Niger is a private institution situated in Umunya, Anambra State. The University is the brainchild of the Diocese on the Niger(Anglican Communion) . It has taken off with four faculties: Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences & Computing, and Faculty of Management & Social Sciences
9) Shanahan University
Shanahan University Onitsha, Anambra State: Shanahan University is a private institution located inside Trans-Nkisi Area in Onitsha, Anambra State. The university is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha. It aims to offer quality education that fosters critical thinking
The University was named after Bishop Shanahan who was at the forefront of championing formal education in Igboland.
Bishop Shanahan died in Kenya and was buried there in the 40s but his remains were brought back to Onitsha in the 50s and reburied at the Cathedral.
10)National Open University of Nigeria ( Awka Study Centre, Abagana)
The National Open University of Nigeria is a federal open and distance learning (ODL) institution, the first of its kind in the West African sub-region. It is Nigeria’s largest tertiary institution in terms of student number and is popularly referred to as ‘NOUN. Technically, this is the 10th university existing in Anambra State.
By :Tony Okafor
( Editor, Research/Evaluation)