Do you desire to be a medical doctor? Do you dream of studying medicine and surgery in one of the best medical schools in Nigeria yet you don’t know which school to choose?
Worry no more! This guide will help you choose the best medical school to attend that will make you graduate as one of the best medical doctors in Nigeria.
Medicine is one of the most desired science courses in Nigeria. In fact, virtually every parent wants their child to be a medical doctor and can go to any length to do so because the profession generates a lot of income and is in high demand all over the world.
Yes, Nigeria has a lot of medical schools one can attend but it is very important you look out for the best accredited medical schools with well-equipped hospitals and qualified lecturers if you want to become one of the best doctors in Nigeria.
I am sure you will not want to waste your money and time studying in just any medical school you see!!
We know that choosing a medical school for study in Nigeria can be quite confusing and difficult which is why we have taken some time to compile a list of the 20 best medical schools in Nigeria.
This guide will show you the 20 best medical schools in Nigeria and some important details you should know about them to guide you while choosing.
Table of Contents
How many years does it take to study medicine in Nigeria?
Studying medicine and surgery in Nigeria takes just 6 years in the university. But these 6 years is divided into various sections which include 1 year of studying preliminary basic sciences, 1 year and 6 months for basic medical science preclinical program, and 3 years and 6 months for clinical study in the teaching hospital.
Of course, students admitted through direct entry will start from the second year hence spending only five years in the university.
Direct entry students will skip the 1 year preliminary basic science which is usually done in the first year and then start from the 18 months basic medical science preclinical program.
Most medical students spend more years in school due to various reasons like strike, failing and repeating classes, lack of accreditation, etc.
That is why it is important that you must choose one of the best accredited medical schools if you want to spend less time at the university!!
This article will guide you to choose the best medical school.
Best Medical Schools in Nigeria
The two top best medical schools in Nigeria are the University of Ibadan, College of Medicine located in Oyo State, and the University of Lagos College of Medicine located in Lagos State, Nigeria.
These schools are known to graduate smart and intelligent doctors. Other top medical schools will also be listed below in this article.
This does not mean that other medical schools are not excellent but these schools take medicine as one of their most priority in their institutions.
List of the 20 Best Medical schools in Nigeria
Below is the list of the 20 best universities for medicine and surgery in Nigeria you may want to consider when choosing your preferred medical school.
- University of Ibadan
- Ahmadu Bello University
- University of Ilorin
- University of Lagos
- Obafemi Awolowo University
- University of Nigeria Nsukka
- Lagos State University College of Medicine
- University of Uyo
- College of Health Science, Delta State University
- Niger Delta University
- University of Benin
- University of Calabar
- College of Medicine, Ambrose Ali University
- Ebonyi State University
- University of Port Harcourt
- Bayero University of Kano
- Usman Dan Fodiyo
- Madonna University, Okija
- University of Jos
- Kogi State University
20 Best Medical Schools in Nigeria
Below are some important details you need to know about the 20 best universities to study medicine in Nigeria.
1. University of Ibadan
University of Ibadan (UI), college of medicine is the best medical school in Nigeria. No medical school in Nigeria has been able to beat that record to date. It is also one of the leading medical colleges in West Africa.
The college hospital of the University is also one of the best hospitals in Nigeria having very good infrastructures and medical practitioners that are well trained and experienced.
The University of Ibadan is one of the highly recommended federal universities in Nigeria located at Oduduwa road, Ibadan in Oyo state, the Southern part of Nigeria.
One interesting thing about the University of Ibadan college of medicine is that it has a good relationship with some international schools in the United States which makes it easy for UI medical students to be exchanged with those in the international schools.
Thousands of students across the country send in their applications every year to study in the University of Ibadan because it is the best in Nigeria. You sure know that such schools will be more difficult to get into since the competition is high.
But it is not impossible to get admission, give it a try and if you are taken, you will never regret it.
2. Ahmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is also one of the best medical schools in Nigeria. It is located in Zaria, Kaduna State, a Northern part of Nigeria. The University was founded in 1962.
ABU is the first medical school in the Northern part of Nigeria and one of the best medical schools you can think of in the North with standard medical facilities and well-trained lecturers.
It is also one of the oldest schools built by the Federal government and well funded too.
If you would love to study medicine in the north, Ahmadu Bello University is a sure bet for you!! No medical school in the north has been able to beat it.
The good news about ABU is that the school fee is quite affordable and getting admission is much easier due to their catchment quota.
The school has 17 departments under the faculty of medicine for both their undergraduate and post-graduate students; you can imagine how good they are.
3. University of Illorin
One of the best medical universities to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria is the University of Illorin.
The University of Illorin college of medicine located in Kwara State is one of the best medical schools one can attend in Nigeria. It has a lot of medical facilities and the best you can find in the southwest part of the country.
Talking about strike? Oh no University of Illorin does not go on strike, in fact, it has an educational system that runs constantly and its academic calendar is very fast.
So if you will love to graduate fast without much delay, your guess is as good as mine, University of Illorin should be your first try. It makes you feel like you are studying medicine abroad.
University of Illorin college of medicine is divided into two faculties which are the faculty of basic medical sciences and the faculty of clinical sciences.
4. University of Lagos
University of Lagos college of medicine is another best university for medicine and surgery. The school is well known for its standard facilities where special medical research is conducted to help solve health-related problems.
It will interest you to know that this college of medicine receives grants from the federal government to conduct health-related research. This means the university has standard equipment and well-qualified medical doctors.
Due to the high population of Lagos State, the University of Lagos is also well populated and the competition for hot courses like medicine will definitely be there. So if you must be accepted, you must study very hard!
The good thing is that the school fee is very much affordable and the environment is perfectly developed for the study.
5. Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) located in Osun State, is one of the best medical schools in Nigeria located in the southwestern part of Nigeria. OAU is also known to have standard equipment and well-qualified doctors.
OAU over the years has been known to treat rare diseases and sicknesses that most people have given up on. Medical students who graduate from OAU are usually well trained because of their well-equipped hospitals.
Obafemi Awolowo school fees are also very much affordable and the environment is very much conducive with the fastest wifi you can ever see in Nigerian schools.
6. University of Nigeria Nsukka
The famous University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) is still one of the top best medical schools you should consider if you want to enjoy your study in medical school.
If you also want to graduate very fast, the University of Nigeria Nsukka can help you achieve that because their calendar is also very fast just like the University of Illorin.
Their school fees are also very cheap and affordable for every student.
UNN medical equipment is top-notch and their lecturers are well qualified. The competition to get into UNN medical school is quite high because UNN is for very serious students; it is not a place for lazy people.
One unique thing to note about UNN is that it is the only medical school in Nigeria that awards MBBS(NIG) to its medical graduates.
7. Lagos State University College of Medicine
Lagos State University College of Medicine located in Ikeja, Lagos is owned by the Lagos State government. It is among the top medical schools in Nigeria with well-equipped facilities and structures for learning.
The University is known for its good reputation and has been able to solve several cases of rejected illnesses thus saving so many lives.
The two faculties in their college of medicine are the faculty of clinical sciences and the faculty of basic medical sciences.
With the large population of Lagos State, accommodation is usually an issue most students face just like other well-populated states in Nigeria. However, it is still one of the best medical colleges you can attend in Nigeria.
8. University of Uyo
The University of Uyo is one of the best universities to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria. UNIUYO is a federal university located in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The University of Uyo College of health sciences is known to have standard equipment in their teaching hospitals and well-qualified teachers with a conducive learning environment for the medical students.
9. College of health science, Delta State University
College of health science, Delta State University is one of the top medical colleges in Nigeria having well-equipped teaching hospitals, well-qualified doctors, and a conducive environment for medical students.
Delta State University has three campuses located at Abraka, Asaba, and Oleh all in Delta State, Nigeria.
The college of medicine comprises three faculties which are faculties of medicine, family medicine & anatomy, and clinical pharmacology & therapeutics.
Though the university does not offer medical courses like nursing, medical laboratory sciences, radiography, and medical rehabilitation/physiotherapy, it is still one of the best for studying medicine and surgery.
10. Niger Delta University
Niger Delta University (NDU) is located in Bayelsa State. It is said to be the best in Bayelsa because of its well-equipped facilities. When it comes to learning, NDU will make sure you learn as a student.
Niger Delta University college of medicine has made a name for itself as one of the highest priorities when it comes to studying medicine in the country with so many testimonies from both people in and outside Bayelsa State.
11. University of Benin
University of Benin is situated in Edo State and is known to be one of the top universities when it comes to studying medicine and surgery. The school has a lot of modern facilities and good structures for medical practice.
Uniben as it is also called has two campuses known as Ugbowo and Ekehuan campuses with three faculties and nine departments in their medical college.
12. University of Calabar
University of Calabar (UNICAL) is located in Calabar, Cross River State, and was established in the year 1975. It is one of the best federal universities in Nigeria.
University of Calabar College of medicine runs a very smooth medical calendar with a conducive environment and academic structures that challenge students to learn more effectively.
13. College of Medicine, Ambrose Ali University
College of Medicine, Ambrose Ali University is located in Edo State and is one of the best in Nigeria with the best set of qualified doctors since it was established.
The MBBS degree in the university does not have honor classification while the BSc. Physiology and Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences are classified based on the CGPA of the student.
The college is however one of the best for studying medicine.
14. Ebonyi State University
Ebonyi State University was established in 1999 at Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The University is one of the best for studying medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
The University has received recommendations from people both within and outside Ebonyi State for their performance in their medical faculties.
15. University of Port Harcourt
The University of Portharcourt was established in 1975 first as a University College, Port Harcourt but later attained the status of a university in 1977.
It became the sixth-ranked University in Africa and the first ranked in Nigeria in 2015 by Times Higher Education.
The University of Port Harcourt is well known for its top medical facilities in the country and is also ranked as one of the best medical colleges in Nigeria.
16. Bayero University Kano
Bayero University Kano is one of the best medical schools in Nigeria and owns one of the top medical facility histories in the country.
Medical professionals usually go to Bayero University for medical programs because of their well-equipped and standard structures.
Bayero University was established in 1975 located in the northern part of Nigeria and has produced so many great northern doctors. You can give it a try if you love to study in the northern part of the country.
17. Usman Dan Fodiyo University
Usman Dan Fodiyo University (UDUS) is located in Sokoto State, a northwest part of Nigeria.
It was founded in 1975 and is one of the best medical schools you can attend if you are considering schooling in the northwest region of the country.
As one of the best universities, it is well equipped with standard facilities and qualified teachers to train the medical students to graduate as good doctors.
18. Madonna University Okija
Madonna University is a well-disciplined private university owned by a priest in Nigeria. The school is well known for its discipline and orderliness in training its students.
Madonna University is known to be one of the best medical universities with fully equipped facilities and well-qualified lecturers to ensure that students who graduate become the best in society.
19. University of Jos
The University of Jos is located in Jos, Plateau State which is a northern part of Nigeria and it was established in 1975.
The University of Jos is known to be one of the best medical schools in Nigeria with standard structures and qualified medical lecturers.
20. Kogi State University
Kogi State University (KSU) is a state university situated in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. The university was established in the year 1999, is also one of the best medical schools in Nigeria.
The faculty of medicine of Kogi State University is one of the best universities to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria and is developing very fast with standard facilities and qualified lecturers to train students to be the best.
I trust this guide has been able to help you choose the best medical school you desire to attend in order to be one of the best doctors.
That is all on the best medical schools in Nigeria.
