List of Nigerian Universities’ Catchment Areas

Did you know that getting admitted into a Nigerian university could depend on where you’re from? Catchment areas play a significant role in admissions, especially for federal universities. This means that certain states are given priority when students apply to specific universities. So, if you’re applying to a university, it’s important to know if your state is within its catchment area—it might give you an edge!

Wondering how this works and which schools have specific catchment areas? Let’s dive into the details and explore the full list of universities and their catchment areas across Nigeria.

Reasons for Catchment Areas in Admission

A catchment area refers to a geographic zone from which a service, such as a school, attracts its users. In Nigeria, catchment areas are used in higher education admissions to benefit students from states considered less educationally developed. Federal universities tend to prioritize candidates from these states, offering them lower cut-off marks than students from more developed regions.

State universities, on the other hand, focus more on favouring candidates from the university’s host state. This means a candidate from the university’s state can be admitted with a lower score compared to a candidate from another state who may have scored higher.

Let’s explore the catchment areas for Nigerian universities. This information is critical for students applying to Federal Institutions.

Hand-Picked Related Post: List of Courses You Can Study Without Mathematics in JAMB and WAEC 2024

List of Nigerian Universities and Their Catchment Areas

University of Benin (UNIBEN)

Catchment Areas: Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, Rivers

University of Calabar (UNICAL)

Catchment Areas: Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Edo, Rivers

University of Jos (UNIJOS)

Catchment Areas: Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau

University of Lagos (UNILAG)

Catchment Areas: Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo

University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)

Catchment Areas: Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara

University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)

Catchment Areas: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK)

Catchment Areas: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria

Catchment Areas: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Bayero University Kano (BUK)

Catchment Areas: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara

Also Read: List of Institutions Whose Post UTME / Admission Forms Are out for 2024/2025

Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)

Catchment Areas: Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo

Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna)

Catchment Areas: Benue, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Zamfara

Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)

Catchment Areas: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ife

Catchment Areas: Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo

Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUSOK)

Catchment Areas: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara

University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)

Catchment Areas: Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers

Merit, Catchment Areas, and Educationally Less Developed States

In Nigeria, admission into higher institutions is guided by three main criteria: Merit, Catchment Areas, and Educationally Less Developed States. Each of these factors plays a role in determining how admission slots are allocated.

Merit Admission List

This refers to students whose scores meet or exceed the departmental cut-off marks. About 45% of the total admission slots are allocated based on merit.

Catchment Area Admission

Catchment areas refer to the geographical zones that are given priority during admissions. Students from these areas are often admitted with lower cut-off marks, and this category accounts for 35% of the total admission slots.

Educationally Less Developed States

This category is reserved for candidates from states considered educationally disadvantaged. Universities reduce cut-off marks for these students, and they receive about 20% of the total admission slots.

Wrapping Up

Understanding the concept of catchment areas can significantly boost your chances of gaining admission into Nigerian universities. Whether through merit, catchment area preferences, or the advantage of coming from an educationally less developed state, it’s essential to know where you stand and how these factors impact your admission prospects. Make sure to check your university’s catchment area as it could make a difference in your application process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is a University Catchment Area?

A university catchment area refers to the states or regions that a university prioritizes for admission. Students from these areas may receive lower cut-off marks compared to students from other regions.

How Does Catchment Area Affect My Chances of Admission?

If you are from a university’s catchment area, you have a higher chance of being admitted, even with a lower score, compared to candidates from non-catchment areas.

Are Catchment Areas the Same for all Universities in Nigeria? 

No, catchment areas vary by university. Each federal and state university has its own designated catchment areas, usually neighbouring states or regions.

What Percentage of Admissions Is Based on Catchment Areas? 

Can I Be Admitted if I Am Not From a Catchment Area?

Generally, 35% of a university’s total admission slots are allocated to candidates from catchment areas.

Yes, admission is still possible through merit if your score meets or exceeds the university’s cut-off mark, or through other criteria like Educationally Less Developed States.