Lagos has more places in higher education than any other Nigerian city, and more applicants for them. Which kind of institution you choose decides the fees, the competition, and how likely the calendar is to be interrupted.
The three kinds
- Federal universities, funded by the federal government. The University of Lagos (UNILAG) at Akoka is the city’s. Fees are lowest and competition for places is fiercest.
- State universities, run by Lagos State: Lagos State University (LASU) at Ojo, and the state’s newer universities of science and technology and of education. Fees are higher than federal, lower than private.
- Private universities, such as Pan-Atlantic University in Lekki. Fees are far higher; classes are smaller, and the calendar is usually steadier.
Lagos also has polytechnics and colleges of education, including Yaba College of Technology, the country’s oldest higher institution, for national diplomas and higher national diplomas.
Getting in
Admission to every one of them runs through JAMB. You need the O-level credits and a UTME score at or above the cut-off — the national minimum is 150, and competitive courses ask far more — and then most universities hold their own screening.
Do your results meet the minimum?
Apply through JAMB’s own portal and registration centres, and accept your offer on JAMB’s admission system when it comes. An “admission” from anyone selling one is a fraud.
Strikes
Federal and state universities have lost months at a time to strikes by lecturers’ and staff unions over funding and pay. A four-year degree can take longer. It is a real reason families choose private universities, and worth weighing against the fees.
After graduation
Graduates under the age limit serve a year in the National Youth Service Corps before most employers will hire them.