Military universities in Nigeria are institutions affiliated with the Nigerian military. Unlike traditional academic institutions, Nigerian military universities not only provide academic training to their students but also provide officer cadets with the necessary military training, skills, and mindset to serve as officers in the Nigerian Army, Air Force, or Navy.
They are militarily inclined, as opposed to the majority of universities, which are civilly inclined. Contrary to popular belief, military universities in Nigeria are not only for officers or cadets of the Nigerian military.
Some schools have only 20 percent of their students be military officers/cadets, with the remaining 70 percent being civilians.
Military schools, like other higher education institutions in Nigeria, offer academic programs in various fields such as engineering, cybersecurity, accounting, computer science, political science & defense studies, history, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology, geography, and so on.
This article will provide a more detailed list of the top military universities in Nigeria. Keep reading.
10 Best Military Schools In Nigeria
1. Nigerian Military Academy (NDA)
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA0) was established in 1964 as a military university in Kaduna State, Nigeria. It is Nigeria’s first and most popular military school, making it the best among all military schools.
NDA was previously known as the Royal Military Forces Training College (RMFTC). In 1960, it was renamed the Nigerian Military Training College.
Through military, academic, and character development, the institution aims to provide officer cadets with the knowledge, skills, and values required to meet the demands of a military officer.
Students can pursue academic programs for four years and military training for one year. Each officer cadet attends the Nigerian Defence Academy for five (5) years.
The NDA trains cadet officers commissioned into any of the Nigerian Armed Forces’ three services: the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, and the Nigerian Air Force.
The Nigerian Defence Academy is currently the best military school in Nigeria.
Sani Abacha, Sultan Sa’adu Abubakar, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, Azubuike Ihejirika, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, and Muhammadu Buhari are among its alums.
Courses the Nigerian Defense Academy offer include;
- History & International Studies,
- Accounting
- Biological Science(s)
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Political Science and Defence Studies
- Psychology
- Transport Logistics Management
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Cyber Security
- Economics
- Electrical/Electronics Engineering
- French
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
2. Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB)
The Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) is Nigeria’s second and newest military University. This University was founded in 2018, making it one of Nigeria’s most recent institutions. The University’s mission is to strengthen the Nigerian Army and the nation through sound and innovative scientific and technological applications.
According to the information on the NAUB website, the army university’s vision is to become a solution center in technology, research, and development for the promotion of self-reliance, creativity, and innovation in addressing the challenges of the Nigerian Army, the military, and the nation.
The University’s mission is to develop a highly skilled military and civilian workforce with distinct competence capable of providing technological solutions to the Nigerian Army, military, and national problems.
Students at the University include both civilians and military personnel. The University’s staff is also a mix of civilians and military personnel.
Looking at the list of faculties, you will notice that the introduction of military-oriented faculties is one of the things that distinguishes this school.
As previously stated, this school is still in its infancy; there are currently no Alumni.
Faculties in the University include:
- Science
- Technology
- Military Technology
- Social Sciences
- Environmental Studies
- Administrative and Management Studies
- Military Policy, Logistics and
- Strategies are the University’s seven faculties.
Courses The Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) offers include;
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Criminology and Security Studies
- Accounting
- Arabic studies
- Biology
- Building
- Chemistry
- Cyber Security
- Economics
- French
- Geography
- Hausa
- Igbo
- Information Systems
- Electrical/Electronics Engineering
- Electronics
- English Language
- Environmental Management
- Estate Management
- Information Technology
- International Relations
- Management
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical and Material Engineering
- Military history
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
- Surveying and Geoinformatics
- Transport and Logistics Management
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Yoruba
- Physics
- Political science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Software Engineering
- Structural Engineering
3. Nigerian Police Academy (NPA/POLAC), Wudil- Kano State
The Nigeria Police Academy is the Nigeria Police Force’s University. The force is in charge of the University. NPA accepts applicants who are not only trained to be civilian graduates but are also relevant to the force’s missions. Wudil, Kano, Kano State is the location of the University.
An SSCE holder may apply for admission via the JAMB UTME. Some university courses (for example, engineering) last five years, while others last four.
The courses the Nigerian Police Academy offers include;
- Law
- History and International Studies
- Igbo
- Accounting
- Banking and Finance
- Biochemistry
- Economics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Social work
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Yoruba
- English Language
- Forensic Science
- French
- Hausa
- Law
- Management Studies
- Mathematics
- Physics
4. Nigerian Military School Zaria
The Nigerian Military School (NMS) Zaria is a Nigerian military institution located in Zaria, Kaduna State. It was established in 1954 as the Nigerian Boys Company and is managed by the Nigerian Regiment Training Centre of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).
After many years of planning, the Boys Company was established as a full-fledged training institution under the regimentation and management of the now-defunct Nigerian Regimental Training Centre (NRTC), now known as Depot NA.
Every boy soldier receives academic programs as well as military training from NMS. One day is set aside for military training every week, while the remaining four days are for academic activities. The institution is one of Nigeria’s best military schools.
5. Air Force Institute of Technology
The AFIT is an acronym for the Air Force Institute of Technology. Kaduna
The Nigeria Air Force University, also known as the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), is a public military tertiary institution in Kaduna State, Nigeria. TSS was founded in 1977, and AFIT was renamed in 2008.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) approved AFIT as a university in 2018 to award undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
The institute provides basic training in aeronautics, aerospace engineering, mechatronics engineering, and avionics to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
AFIT has five (5) faculties: Air Engineering, Computing, Ground and Communication Engineering, Social and Management Sciences, and Sciences. The institute also has a School of Postgraduate Studies (SPS).
Courses Air Force Institute of Technology Offers are;
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Accounting
- Aerospace Engineering
- Automotive Engineering
- Banking and Finance
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Cyber Security
- Economics
- Electrical/Electronics Engineering
- Information and Communication Technology
- Physics
- Physics with Electronics
- Statistics
- Telecommunication Engineering
- International Relations
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Metallurgical and Material Engineering
AFIT has graduated over 5,689 Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force officers, as well as civilians, making it one of the best military schools in Nigeria. In addition, international graduates from the Armed Forces of the Republic of Benin, Zimbabwe, Niger, Ghana, and Sierra Leone have also graduated from the institution.
6. Nigerian Navy School of Health Science, Offa, Kwara State
The Nigerian Navy School of Health Sciences, Offa (NNSHS), formerly known as the NN Medical Staff Training School (MSTS), was founded in 1984 in NNS QUORRA due to the decision to localize professional courses in the NN due to the nation’s economic downturn.
The idea for the school was conceived in 1982, but it did not become a reality until 1984. The school was established to train middle-level personnel to assist health professionals in achieving the primary goals of the NN Medical Service. Previously, the medical ratings were trained abroad at great expense to the country.
Courses the Nigerian Navy School of Health Science, Offa, Kwara State offers are;
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Radiography Technician
- Health Information Management – ND/HND
- Dental Therapy – ND/HND
- Basic Medical Qualifying Course
- Physiotherapy Technician
- Environmental Health – ND/HND
- Pharmacy Technician
Candidates seeking admission to the School of Health Science can select it as a preference (usually first) when filling out the JAMB UTME form.
7. Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration, Apapa, Lagos State
The Nigerian Army Finance Corps (NAFC) history cannot be entirely written without a background brief on the Nigerian Army (NA).
This is because the NAFC’s history is inextricably linked to the evolution of the NA. As the NA went through various stages of reorganization, so did the NAFC, which is the NA’s instrument of financial administration in terms of receipts, disbursements, and fund management—pay and Records Office, as a unit, and Nigerian.
Candidates seeking admission to the school should consider obtaining the JAMB UTMe form and selecting the school from a list of options.
The school runs HND and ND in:
- Accountancy and
- Office Management and Technology
8. The Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology (NACEST)
It is a public polytechnic located in Benue State, Nigeria.
Courses offered by NACEST include;
- Civil Engineering
- Science Laboratory Technology
- Public Administration
- Computer Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- Urban & Regional Planning
- Quantity Surveying & Geoinformatics
- Estate Management Valuation
- Statistics
- Architectural Technology
- Building Technology
- Business Administration
- Banking & Finance and
- Accountancy is among them.
These programs provide students with the knowledge and technical skills to meet modern warfare dynamics’ ever-changing and rapid development.
9. Nigerian Navy School of Finance and Logistics College, Oweeinta, Abia State
Owerrinta’s Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College (NNFLC) was founded in 1876 as the Nigerian Navy Supply School. It was initially located in Calabar before being relocated to Sapele in KV as the Nigerian Navy Logistics Training Centre.
The school was relocated to its current location in Owerrinta in KM and commissioned on October 7. On May 15, 2013, the current name, Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College (NNFLC), was adopted. Since its inception, the college has contributed only minor to the Nigerian Navy’s overall training objectives (NN). However, it has so far trained many officers and ratings in Accounting and Logistics.
Navy personnel seeking admission to the school should consider it an option during the JAMB UTME registration process to process admissions for National Diploma (ND) programs.
Nigerian Navy ND is a two-year training program for NN personnel, divided into ND1 and ND2 academic years. ND1 final-year students begin a 3-month industrial training attachment, which allows them to begin the next level, ND2, whose final-year candidates form a 1-year industrial training attachment to gain required field skills for program completion.
The school offers the following accredited courses:
- Accounting
- Business administration and
- Office technology and management are all areas of study.
These courses are currently only available to Nigerian Navy personnel. It does not apply to other sister Services. Through education, the National Diploma Program provides Navy personnel with knowledge.
10. Nigerian Army School Of Military Engineers
North Bank, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. The Nigerian Army School of Military Engineers (NASME) provides quality educational training for military personnel in engineering fields such as the art, science, and practice of designing and building military structures.
Summary
In Nigeria, several military schools provide education and training to students interested in pursuing careers in the military. Some of the notable army schools in Nigeria include:
- Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna – This is the premier military training institution in Nigeria, responsible for the training of officer cadets for the Nigerian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
- Nigerian Army School of Education (NASOE), Zaria – This is the training institution for the Nigerian Army, responsible for providing education and training to soldiers in the army.
- Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS), Onne – This is the training institution for the Nigerian Navy, responsible for providing education and training to naval ratings.
- Nigerian Air Force Institute of Technology (NAFIT), Kaduna – This is the training institution for the Nigerian Air Force, responsible for providing education and training to Air Force personnel.
- Nigerian Army Peacekeeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji – This is the training institution for the Nigerian Army, responsible for providing peacekeeping training to soldiers deployed on peacekeeping missions.
These schools provide a unique learning environment and allow students to develop leadership skills, physical fitness, and military tactics.
