9 Outstanding Catholic Universities in Nigeria

Education is vital in every society, and the church in Nigeria is making a big difference in this area by setting up catholic universities and ensuring they are always of high quality.

Today, Nigeria’s largest non-public school system comprises Catholic institutions. Catholic education existed in Nigeria even before there was a nation. This missionary education had a solid foothold by the time the first Roman Catholic school opened in the late nineteenth century.

Attending a Catholic college or institution has many advantages. Let’s examine a few of Nigeria’s outstanding Catholic universities.

Also read: 7 International Universities You Can Easily Get Into

Catholic Universities In Nigeria

1. Madonna University

The first Catholic University in Nigeria is Madonna University (MU). The National Universities Commission approved it. Madonna University Nigeria has three campuses: the Elele campus located in Elele, River states, the Okija campus in Anambra state, and the Akpugo campus in Enugu.

Madonna University has courses and programs that lead to degrees from their colleges and faculties recognized by the government. 

This 23-year-old Nigerian college has a selective admissions process based on entrance exams, including the grades and records of students from their previous schools.

Madonna’s acceptance rate is between 70 and 80%, which makes it a pretty good school. International students are welcome to apply to Madonna University.

Aside from academic and non-academic facilities and services, they offer students a library, housing, recreation centers, and administrative services.

2. Caritas University

Caritas University was started in 2005. It is a private, for-profit college on the outskirts of the city of Enugu. The institution began in 2005 and has ties to the Christian-Catholic faith.

The Nigerian National Universities Commission has also recognized Caritas University. The University has classes and programs that lead to degrees from colleges and faculties that the government recognizes.

This 17-year-old Nigerian college has a selective admissions process based on entrance exams and students’ academic records from before. 60–70% of those who apply are accepted, so it is a pretty selective school.

Students from all over the world are welcome to apply. At CAU, students can use a wide range of academic and non-academic services and facilities.

3. Spiritan University

Spiritan University is a private college that opened in 2017 and is not for profit. The University is in Umunneochi, Abia, on the outskirts of a small town with a lot of charm. The National Universities Commission has officially recognized this school.

Spiritan University in Nneochi has courses and programs that lead to degrees that the government recognizes, such as bachelor’s degrees.

This Nigerian college has been around for five years and has a selective admissions process based on entrance exams and previous grades. With an acceptance rate of 40–50%, they are a university with a moderately high level of competition.

International students are welcome to apply. Students at the University have access to a wide range of academic and non-academic facilities and services.

4. Godfrey Okoye University

The Bishop of Enugu (Emeritus), Most Rev. Dr. A. O. Gbuji, was the first person to suggest that the Catholic Diocese of Enugu start a Catholic University. He told all of the priests in the diocese about the idea.

He wanted a university with the name “Cor Unum” to show how all of the educational activities in the diocese were connected.

After the institution applied to the Standing Commission on Private Universities and National Universities Commission and went through several checks, it was finally approved.

On October 27, 2009, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission formally told the owner, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, that Godfrey Okoye University had been given provisional approval to start up as a private university in Nigeria. This was because the requirements had been met.

The approval’s terms and conditions were carefully written down. The owner was also asked to come to the NUC office in Abuja on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, to get the provisional license.

After getting the University’s license on November 3, 2009, Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian C. Anieke became the Vice Chancellor.

The University offers mostly science undergraduate studies and has an entrepreneurship center, including a few certificate programs.

5. Dominican University

Dominican University, Ibadan (DU) is a private Christian-Catholic college in the Nigerian city of Ibadan. The Dominican University is a private college that opened in 2016 in Ibadan, Oyo.

Dominican University in Ibadan has classes and programs that lead to degrees that the government recognizes. In addition, students can use a variety of teaching and non-teaching services and facilities at school.

6. Veritas University

Veritas University is one of the best private schools in Nigeria. It is in Abuja, which is the country’s capital. The University, which was made in 2007, was approved by the National Universities Commission.

In 1999, Veritas University was set up by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. The permanent location of the University is in Bwari, which is in the Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.

Veritas University teaches students to have strong morals, to be self-reliant, and to learn business skills so that both the students and Nigerian society can benefit socially and economically.

The University tries to give students a higher education and a well-rounded education if they are smart enough to study there and have the right social skills.

7. Gregory University

Gregory University, Uturu, is a private college in Uturu, the capital of the state of Abia. This University, which opened in 2012 and is ten years old, has been officially recognized by the National Universities Commission.

Gregory University in Uturu has courses and programs that lead to degrees that the government recognizes. In addition, students at the University have access to a wide range of academic and non-academic facilities and services.

8. Augustine University

Augustine University, Ilara, also known as AUI, is a private Catholic university in the town of Ilara in the Epe local government area of Lagos State. It is also known by its acronym, AUI. 

The Federal Government of Nigeria approved the University on February 25, 2015, through the National Universities Commission.

The University has courses for undergraduates and also runs online programs. In 2016, the school took in its first group of students.

9. Tansian University

Tansian University (TANU) is in the Nigerian city of Umunya, which is in the Oyi Local Government Area of the Anambra State.

It is a private school for Christians. Before the permanent location was set up in Umunya, it began as a temporary site in Oba, which is in the Idemili South Local Government Area. Rev. Msgr. Prof. John Bosco Akam started it in 2009. He died in 2021.

The University has about six faculties that offer a wide range of bachelor’s degrees. Local and international students are welcome to apply.

Bottomline

There are many benefits of going to a Catholic university or college. The Catholic Church has a reputation for always placing a high value on education. So, it’s not surprising that the catholic church is linked to some of the best institutions in the country.

Hopefully, this list can help you decide which university to attend if you have ever nursed the idea of attending a catholic university.