Over the last two decades, private universities in Nigeria have expanded rapidly from just a handful to dozens, offering alternatives to the often overcrowded and strike-prone public institutions.
As of February 2025, there are 149 private universities in Nigeria, making up more than half of the country’s 295 total universities.
Among all these choices, a few stand out for charging fees that most Nigerians can only dream of paying, creating headlines every time school fees are mentioned.
These elite universities cater to a small, wealthy segment of society, far removed from what the average Nigerian can afford.
Behind these top-tier institutions are powerful individuals and organizations ranging from religious bodies to business moguls and international investors who have poured resources into building campuses that reflect their vision, values, and status.
In this article, Nairametrics presents a detailed look at the owners and financiers behind Nigeria’s most expensive private universities, those setting the pace not just in pricing, but in shaping the future of premium higher education in the country.
Here is a list of the owners of the most expensive private universities in Nigeria
Founder, Pastor Enoch Adeboye
Redeemer’s University (RUN) is owned by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). The university was founded by Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of RCCG.
Adeboye holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics and serves as the Visitor to the university. The university’s vision is to nurture God-fearing, humane citizens who are technologically prepared for a dynamic world, emphasizing high moral standards and shunning vices like drugs, cultism, and violence.
Redeemer’s University was granted an operating license by the Federal Government of Nigeria on January 7, 2005, following the promulgation of Decree No. 9 of 1993, which allowed private universities in Nigeria. The university commenced operations on October 11, 2005, at a temporary site in the Redemption Camp, Mowe, Ogun State, and later transitioned to its permanent campus in Ede in 2014.
Redeemers University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs across several faculties, having transitioned from a collegiate to a faculty system in the 2019/2020 academic session.
The school fees for the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences at Redeemer’s University range from N846,500 to N1,636,300 per session, while the Faculty of Law fees range from N1,141,500 to N2,090,000 per session for the 2025/2026 academic year.
