The school you graduate from has a lot to do with how good your career will be after graduating. In Nigeria for instance, employers care so much about the school their employees attend because some universities in are not worth it. This is why it is important, if not compulsory to check out for the best before choosing the university you want to attend.
In this article, i will be taking you through the best and cheapest universities to study law in Nigeria. Note that the universities I am going to mention in this article are not in any way affiliated to this website. We conducted a thorough research before concluding with this content. So if you want to attend the best universities for law in Nigeria, you have them all mentioned here.
Top 11 Best Law Universities/Schools in Nigeria
1. University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Location: Lagos State, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1962
Type: Public
Motto: in deed and in truth
The University of Lagos (popularly known as UNILAG) is one of the best universities in Nigeria. I mean, in 2018 it was ranked top three according to 4ICU. It will also surprise you to know that UNILAG is one of five first generation universities in Nigeria and was founded in 1962.
When it comes to gaining admission, UNILAG is one of the most strictest and competitive institutions. Research shows that the university usually have about 40,000 intake out of the millions of students that apply for admission every year.
UNILAG Faculty of Law is actually the best in Nigeria currently. The faculty apparently has full accreditation by the National University Commission (NUC). Most lawyers in Nigeria have also corroborated that UNILAG is the camp of excellent law students.
Just last year, UNILAG produced the highest number of first class law graduates in Nigeria. This made the university not only the best but also the most prestigious.
Trust me, if you really want to attend the best institution in Nigeria, you have to consider UNILAG first. Undoubtedly, it has the best law faculty in Nigeria too. Don’t also forget to check the UNILAG admission requirements for Law before you apply.
2. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Location: Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1961
Type: Public
Motto: For Learning and Culture
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is another powerful university to study Law in Nigeria. The University was first known as the University of Ife when it was established in 1961. However, as time went by, the school was named after one of the prestigious leaders of Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
As one of the most popular universities in Nigeria, OAU is very competitive. In a recent publication by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Obafemi Awolowo University was amongst the most soughted universities in Nigeria.
Despite the millions of students that apply for admission into the university every year, OAU only take about 35,000 students for every session.
Studying Law in OAU is like studying law in Harvard University. The school has one of the stupendous law faculties I have seen.
It will surprise you to also know that most of the international and national competitions for schools in Nigeria and other parts of Africa are usually initiated by this university.
As a matter of fact, OAU took first position in the 2019 “All university mooting competition” that was just concluded.
3. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Location: Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1960
Type: Public
Motto: To restore the dignity of man
In my view, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is among the top 3 universities to study law in Nigeria this year. If you are a citizen of Nigeria then must have heard about this prestigious university. It is the Indigenous university of Nigeria with about 44,000 students currently schooling there.
UNN was the first autonomous university in Nigeria, modelled upon the American educational system. This is actually why the university is very reputable. In fact, in 2019, UNN was ranked the best university in Nigeria according to Webometrics.
This shows that the university is recognized nationwide and even Internationally. UNN’s law faculty is the best when it comes to good standard of teaching, hardworking students with at least 5 first class students every year.
If you really want to attend the best university for law in Nigeria, I enjoin you to also consider UNN too. Below are the departments in the university’s Faculty of Law;
- Commercial and Property Law department
- International Law and Jurisprudence department
- Public and Private Law department.
Don’t also forget to check the university’s admission requirements for Law here. This will educate you on everything you need to gain admission into UNN this year.
4. University of Ibadan (UI)
Location: Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1948
Type: Federal
Motto: Recte Sapere Fons (To think straight is the fount of knowledge).
Another wonderful university to study law in Nigeria is the prestigious University of Ibadan (Popularly called UI). UI is the first and best tertiary institution in Nigeria. It was established in 1948 as the University College Ibadan to help in enlightening and educating Nigerians during the colonial erra.
Based on many rankings of institutions in Nigeria, UI is the best and most prestigious University in Nigeria now.
In that same light, the university has one of the best law faculties in the country. In almost every session, UI have the highest number of first class graduates from Nigerian Law School.
UI is known as one of the universities that always support their students to participate in almost every competition. I mean, there is probably no legal competition in Nigeria that students of the University of Ibadan does not participate in. All these things contributed to my reason for mentioning this university here.
If you really want to study in UI, don’t forget to check UI admission requirements here!
5. Faculty Of Law UNIBEN
Location: Benin city, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1970
Type: Public research university
Motto: Knowledge for Service
UNIBEN has always been the first choice of institution for my law aspirants in Nigeria. The university usually have thousands of students applying for admission into the Faculty of Law every year. Thus, it is not very easy to gain admission into UNIBEN. Trust me; if you don’t work hard, UNIBEN might not offer you admission.
UNIBEN faculty law is a recognized and accredited faculty by the Nigerian University Commission (NUC). The faculty has produced thousands of great lawyers that are well recognized in the Nigerian legal system.
Most of the top lawyers, judges and attorneys in Nigeria actually schooled here. Take for instance, Babatunde Raji Fashola, the former governor of lagos state studied law in UNIBEN. According, the popular Iyom Josephine Anenih also studied law at UNIBEN.
If you really want to study in the best faculty of law in Nigeria, you should consider studying in the university of Benin (UNIBEN). You might also want to see the university departmental cutoff and admission requirements for Law here.
6. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Location: Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 4 October 1962
Type: Public, Research
Motto: The first duty of every university is the search for and the spread of knowledge and the establishment of the nation
As a federal university, there is probably no student who hasn’t heard about ABU, Zaria in Nigeria. ABU is even more popular in the North because it is the best university there. Accordingly, ABU is also among the top 5 universities in Nigeria generally.
After it was established in 1962, the university was named after the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria. Ahmadu Bello is a well respected person in the North and that is why many students dream of schooling in the university every day.
Frankly speaking, ABU is competitive. It is amongst the most soughted universities in Nigeria according to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
ABU, Zaria has one of the best law faculties in Nigeria. So, i am recommending the university for all the students from the northern part of Nigeria. However, that does not mean that the university is only for Northerners.
It will surprise you to know that students of ABU actually represented Nigeria at the Sherman and Sterling International Round of the Philip C. Jessup competition in Washington D.C, U.S.A. This was on the 7th of April, 2005. Indeed, they are among the best.
7. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)
Location: Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1975
Type: Public
Motto: Probitas Doctrina
Next is the prestigious University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Frankly speaking, UNILORIN is a great place to study law in Nigeria. The university’s faculty of law is one of the most recognized in Nigeria too.
Research has also shown that, UNILORIN produces more first class students from the Nigerian Law school than many other state and even federal university in Nigeria.
It will surprise you to know that UNILORIN was established during the military regime in 1975 at Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The university has apparently not been in existence for long, but it is usually counted among the best in Nigeria.
Wikipedia also postulates that UNILORIN was created to implement one of the educational directives of the Third National Development Plan which was aimed at providing more opportunities for Nigerians aspiring to acquire university education and to generate high-level manpower.
If you wish to study in any of the best law faculties in Nigeria, you should consider studying in UNILORIN.
Check out the UNILORIN admission requirements and departmental cutoff marks for law here.
8. University of Calabar (UNICAL)
Location: Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1975
Type: Public
Motto: Knowledge for Service
UNICAL is undoubtedly among of the best universities to study law in Nigeria too. Aside from my personal research about this university, I have friends that are currently studying law there and I must confess, that they are doing absolutely well.
The University of Calabar is a federal university situated at Calabar, Nigeria. Historically, UNICAL was a compus of the University of Nigeria. But with time, UNICAL separated and became a full fledged autonomous university in 1975.
The motto of the university is “Knowledge for Service”. This is evidently what the university is trying to imbibe in her students. Put in a different way, UNICAL is making sure that students make use of their knowledge to change their society in a good way.
UNICAL has one of the leading law faculties in Nigeria. Studying law in UNICAL is obviously the dream of many students because it is one of the best institutions in Nigeria.
Accordingly to research, UNICAL Faculty of Law The faculty was established in September 1980 with about one hundred students and six academic staff. The Faculty started off with two department (Department of Private Law and the Deparment of Public and International Law).
Today, UNICAL law faculty is known all over the world. Students from the university has represented Nigeria in so many international competitions in Africa and other continent.
You strongly advise you to check out this UNICAL Admission Requirements for Law if you are searching for the best institution to study law this year.
9. Lagos State University (LASU)
Location: Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 1983
Type: Public
Motto: Per la verità e di servizio (For Truth and Service)
In my view, LASU is the best state university to study law in Nigeria. Just like the University of Calabar (UNICAL), LASU is bent on producing students that will use their knowledge to help the society. This is why the school’s motto reads “For Truth and Service”.
LASU was established in 1983 at Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria. The university is one of the well known state universities in Nigeria with about 35,000 students currently schooling there.
Based on research, LASU has one of the best law faculties in Nigeria currently. The university has won notable prices in many national and international Law competitions. Accordingly students of the prestigious Lagos State University have represented Nigeria in international legal debates countless times.
There is absolutely no doubt that LASU is one of the best universities to study law in Nigeria. Check out LASU admission requirements for Law here.
10. Covenant University (CU)
Location: Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria
Year of establishment: 21 October 2002
Type: Private
Motto: Raising a New Generation of Leaders
After its establishment on the 21st of October, 2002, Covenant University has been working to become one of the most prestigious Universities in Nigeria. It will surprise you to know that the university even compete with some federal and state universities in Nigeria.
Take for instance, in the just concluded 2019 All Nigerian University Moot competition, students of CU among the top five in that competition.
Apparently, there are other stupendous things about Covenant University I may not have talked about. But the truth is that, it is among the best in Nigeria to study law.
So, if you can afford for a private university, i enjoin you attend this school. When you decide to study in the school, don’t also forget to check Covenant University admission requirements for Law.
11. Enugu State University of Science and technology (ESUT)
Location: Enugu, Enugu State
Year of establishment: 1979
Type: State University
ESUT is a well known and prestigious state university in Nigeria. It is among the few state universities that has been able to outrank many other state universities in Nigeria, and is also competing with federal government owned schools in the yearly ranking of universities according to the Nigerian University Commission (NUC).
The Faculty of law, ESUT was actually established in 1980, together with other professional courses. Currently, the faculty is one of the best in Nigeria. Students of ESUT is always coming, at least, 7th position any time law school competitions are held in the country.
Just last year, some of the students who represented Nigeria in an international competition were members of the university too. This goes to show that the university is undoubtedly one of the best to study law in Nigeria currently. Nonetheless, it should also be noted that Law school fees Enugu State University of Science and technology is one of the most expensive. But, trust me, it is worth it.
So far, I have mentioned the best universities to study law in Nigeria and explained why they are the best. I trust that with the content of this article you will not make the mistake of applying for law in a school that probably has no value to impact. Meanwhile, the fact that other universities in Nigeria are not mentioned here does not mean that they are bad. Of course, this is just the best among all the good law schools you can apply for in Nigeria.