Universities in Bayelsa — Full List

Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) is a state-owned specialist medical university established by the Bayelsa State Government and licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on 2 March 2019, making it Nigeria's 170th approved university at the time of its licensing. Located in Yenagoa, the state capital, BMU is dedicated exclusively to health sciences education and research, positioning itself as a medical training hub for the South-South geopolitical zone. The university's MBBS programme was approved by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in April 2024 — a key milestone that validated its clinical medical training. BMU was established to address the severe shortage of health professionals in Bayelsa State and the wider Niger Delta region.

Federal University, Otuoke (FUOTUOKE) is a federal government-owned university located in Otuoke, a town in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. It was established in February 2011 by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan as one of nine new federal universities created to expand access to higher education across Nigeria. The university sits in the hometown of former President Jonathan, and as a result benefits from improved road infrastructure relative to other rural federal university campuses. FUOTUOKE is accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and has grown from a nascent institution to a comprehensive university offering programmes across sciences, engineering, health sciences, law, education, management and social sciences. The university operates a digital e-campus portal for all academic and administrative activities.

Niger Delta University (NDU) is the pioneer university in Bayelsa State, established in the year 2000 by the Bayelsa State Government under Governor Chief Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha. The university is located on Wilberforce Island in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area — an area accessible primarily by boat or via the Yenagoa–Amassoma road. NDU is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and operates two main campuses: the main campus in Amassoma (which hosts most faculties) and a satellite campus in Yenagoa (the state capital, which hosts the Faculty of Law). The Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) is located in Okolobiri and serves as the clinical training facility for the university's health science programmes. NDU is NUC-accredited and ranks among the 50 best universities in Nigeria. It is the most established and comprehensive university in Bayelsa State, with 12 faculties and approximately 16,000 students.

University of Africa, Toru-Orua (UAT) is a state-owned public university established in 2017 by the Bayelsa State Government and accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Located in Toru-Orua, a riverine community in Sagbama Local Government Area, the university is named to reflect Bayelsa's pan-African ambitions for educational excellence. UAT offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across sciences, arts, social sciences, agriculture, management and education. The university also operates a JUPEB (Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board) programme, enabling candidates to gain Direct Entry admission without JAMB. UAT is the second state university established in Bayelsa State after NDU, and is positioned to serve communities in the Sagbama axis of the state.