Best University To Study Pharmacy In Nigeria

There are many universities in Nigeria. Less than thirty of these schools have programs for pharmacy. And the national university commission (NUC), have not accredited all the pharmacy programmes so too is the pharmacists council of Nigeria (PCN).

Best pharmacy school

Before a pharmacy programme is approved by NUC and PCN, they must meet certain minimum requirements. There are so many things that they look out for. For example, facilities, man power, curriculum, calibre of lecturer and non-academic staff, etc. When a school meets or exceeds this expectation, they are given the node to admit and graduate students which can be inducted into the profession.

Read Also: List of approved school of pharmacy in Nigeria

Majority of these accredited schools of pharmacy have met and exceeded these requirements, hence are dubbed best. Although NUC releases a list of the best universities in Nigeria all the time, they have never done it on a faculty level. Some schools that are ranking as best in Nigeria may not have a very high standard of facility for pharmacy because that may not actually be their main interest. So there is this sting debate which is the best pharmacy faculty in Nigeria.

Most of the list of the best faculty of pharmacy out there is based on personal and public opinion. Many posts pull arguments from different sources to make their informed decision hence there is always that debate as to the correctness of such a list.

The best bodies to provide a good list is either NUC or PCN. They have all the information about all the schools more than anyone. However, to pull this list together, I have to consider all the schools I have written about and the information I have at my disposal. I also check out what others are saying.

The list may be wrong in one way or the other but I put so much into consideration. So this post is actually directed at pharmacy aspirants who want the best within the country. Because the school you attend will go a long way in shaping your career.

Best Federal University

Federal universities are universities in Nigeria controlled by the federal government. Majority of them have been faculty of pharmacy for years now. They were the first to start the programme. Many of them have it and have been accredited. That is why most of the top schools of pharmacy are in federal university. However, this post will focus on just two federal universities in no order of best.

University Of Benin (UNIBEN)

UNIBEN students always call themselves UNIBEST. They are not far from the truth. This is also applicable to their pharmacy faculty. They were the first to introduce the doctor of pharmacy (Pharm D) curriculum in the early year 2000 when others are still battling with bachelor of pharmacy (B Pharm). They have so far the best set of Pharm D graduates. UNIBEN was created in 1970 to cater for the Midwest state. 

University Of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)

UNN is one of the oldest universities in Nigeria established in 1960 after independence. It was in 1967 the faculty of pharmaceutical sciences was introduced making it the oldest faculty of pharmacy in Nigeria. It has the largest number of pharmacists in Nigeria. Till date, it is still pushing hard to establish itself as one of the best faculty of pharmacy in Nigeria with the introduction of the Pharm D programme making it one of the five approved Pharm D universities. One more thing, it has one of the best student and staff friendly websites among all the schools listed here.

Best State University

So many state universities have joined the race to establish themselves in the profession. Although many cannot be compared to the majority of the federal universities, even the ones not listed here, they have carved a name for themselves. A very good example is Niger Delta university (NDU).

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You can't take it away from them. Not anytime soon. This is because they have put a lot into the faculty and they are not slowing down. It took them just a few years to get NUC and PCN accreditation without agitation. I remember them in Delta state university (DELSU) when we used to talk about NDU as a standard we opt to emulate. Years down the lane, they are still pushing the limits. The school was established in 2000. It is one of the few state universities with postgraduate programmes in pharmacy. Gives you an idea what they are up to right?

Best Private University

Actually, most of the private universities just enjoy the benefits of getting listed as a school with a pharmacy. They end it there. There is no push after accreditation. Madonna university tops the list of pharmacy schools in private universities. They have tried and are trying.

Best University Not Accredited

There is a private university I wrote about recently. Though not yet accredited, I must say it is worth talking about. Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti is a school with a difference. To explain what I mean, when the school started their medicine and surgery programme, it was credited with first visitation from both NUC and the governing body of medical doctors. So too are many other departments and faculty in the school. The school just started their pharmacy programme and there is work in progress to get it accredited as soon as possible. From the little I have gathered, they won't have any problem with the accreditation.

So here you have it. The best pharmacy schools in Nigeria. Feel free to drop your own suggestions.