By By Our Reporter
THE South-West region of Nigeria leads the country in the number of full professors based on the location of universities, according to data released by the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the year 2022.
With a combined total of 3,060 professors, the South-West dominates the academic landscape. Oyo State stands out nationally with 757 professors, followed closely by Lagos (659), Osun (564), Ogun (483), Ondo (463) and Ekiti (134).
The South-South region ranks second with 2,090 full professors. Edo State leads the region with 647, followed by Rivers (463), Cross River (339), Delta (270), Akwa Ibom (196) and Bayelsa (175).
In the South-East, universities host 1,434 full professors, with Enugu accounting for the bulk at 710. Imo follows with 323, Abia (269), Ebonyi (125) and Anambra contributing just 7 professors — the lowest in the zone.
The North-Central zone has a total of 1,374 full professors. Kwara tops with 347, followed by Plateau (327), Benue (297), Niger (220), Kogi (104) and Nasarawa (79).
The North-West region recorded 940 professors, with Kano leading at 428, followed by Sokoto (316), Kaduna (62), Katsina (60), Jigawa (38), Kebbi (30) and Zamfara trailing with only 6 professors.
The North-East, with a total of 379 professors, recorded the lowest zonal count. Bauchi has the highest number in the region with 151, followed by Adamawa (134), Gombe (44), Taraba (41) and Yobe (9).
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, had 142 full professors as of 2022.
The data reflects significant regional disparities in academic staffing and highlights the concentration of experienced academic personnel in the southern regions, particularly the South-West.
Education analysts have pointed to these imbalances as a potential factor influencing educational quality and output across Nigeria’s higher institutions.
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