Covenant University (CU) is a private Christian Pentecostal university located in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria. Founded on 21st October 2002 by Bishop David Oyedepo, the presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Covenant University is widely regarded as Nigeria’s most prestigious private university and one of Africa’s leading universities. With a student enrolment of approximately 8,000 — 9,000 and over 20,000 alumni worldwide, CU offers over 36 undergraduate programmes across 4 colleges and 23 departments, in addition to a growing portfolio of postgraduate programmes. The university is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Association of African Universities, and is fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC). In 2019, Covenant University became the first Nigerian university to be ranked in the top 401 — 500 category of world universities by Times Higher Education (THE), and in 2020 was ranked No. 1 in Nigeria, No. 1 in West Africa, and No. 4 in Africa overall by the same ranking body. The current Vice-Chancellor is Professor Timothy A. Anake, who assumed office in 2025.
History of the Institution
The founding of Covenant University began in October 1999, just one month after the dedication of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota. The university is a product of the Liberation Commission and was established by the World Mission Agency and the Living Faith Church Worldwide, driven by the vision of raising a new generation of leaders and reinstating the dignity of the black race. Its founding Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo, provided the vision and resources that transformed Canaanland, Ota into a world-class educational campus.
Academic activities commenced on 21st October 2002, making CU one of the pioneering private universities licensed by the NUC following the federal government’s liberalisation of university ownership in Nigeria. The institution launched with three founding colleges — the College of Business Studies (CBS), the College of Human Development (CHD), and the College of Science and Technology (CST). These were restructured over the years to improve efficiency and alignment with the university’s expanding academic scope.
In the 2009/2010 academic session, the colleges were reorganised into two: the College of Development Studies (formed by merging CBS and CHD) and the retained College of Science and Technology. By the 2014/2015 academic session, Covenant University had expanded again to four colleges — the College of Business and Social Sciences (CBSS), the College of Leadership Development Studies (CLDS), the College of Engineering, and the College of Science and Technology (CST) — each with two schools. This four-college structure remains in operation today with updated naming conventions.
Covenant University’s rise to international prominence has been rapid. In January 2015, it was ranked the best university in Nigeria according to Webometrics. In 2016 and 2017, the National Universities Commission named it the best private university in Nigeria. In August 2017, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded it the best private university in Nigeria. On 26th September 2018, it became the highest-ranked Nigerian university in the THE World University Rankings. In 2020, it ranked No. 1 in Nigeria, No. 1 in West Africa, and No. 4 in Africa by THE, and was ranked 301 — 400 globally in Engineering and Technology. It was also ranked No. 1 in Nigeria for graduate employment by the STUTERN Graduate Employability Report in 2018. A new College of Law has also been announced by the Chancellor to address critical gaps in Nigeria’s legal education.
The university operates as a fully residential institution. All students live on campus in Canaanland, Ota — a self-contained community with lecture halls, laboratories, hostels, chapels, a clinic, sports facilities, cafeterias, and a shopping complex. The university is known for strict lifestyle rules including a ban on personal mobile phones on campus, a compulsory dress code, mandatory chapel attendance, and no cooking in hostels.
Location
Covenant University (CU) Km. 10, Idiroko Road Canaanland, Ota Ogun State, Nigeria
Phone: +234 1 790 1081 Website: covenantuniversity.edu.ng
The university is located approximately 15 kilometres from the Lagos — Abeokuta Expressway, in Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria.
List of Courses Offered by Covenant University
Covenant University currently offers over 36 undergraduate programmes across 4 colleges and 23 departments, in addition to postgraduate (PGD, M.Sc., MBA, Ph.D.) programmes through the Postgraduate School.
College of Engineering
- Chemical Engineering (B.Eng. — 5 years)
- Civil Engineering (B.Eng. — 5 years)
- Computer Engineering (B.Eng. — 5 years)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering (B.Eng. — 5 years)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.Eng. — 5 years)
- Petroleum and Gas Engineering (B.Eng. — 5 years)
- Telecommunications Engineering (B.Eng. — 5 years)
College of Science and Technology
- Architecture (B.Sc. / B.Arch.)
- Biochemistry (B.Sc.)
- Biological Sciences (B.Sc.)
- Building Technology (B.Sc.)
- Chemistry / Industrial Chemistry (B.Sc.)
- Computer Science (B.Sc.)
- Estate Management (B.Sc.)
- Management Information Systems (B.Sc.)
- Mathematics (B.Sc.)
- Microbiology (B.Sc.)
- Physics with Electronics (B.Sc.)
College of Management and Social Sciences (formerly CBSS)
- Accounting (B.Sc.)
- Banking and Finance (B.Sc.)
- Business Administration (B.Sc.)
- Demography and Social Statistics (B.Sc.)
- Economics (B.Sc.)
- Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management (B.Sc.)
- Marketing (B.Sc.)
- Mass Communication (B.Sc.)
- Public Relations and Advertising (B.Sc.)
- Sociology (B.Sc.)
College of Leadership and Development Studies (formerly CLDS)
- English Language (B.A.)
- International Relations and Diplomacy (B.Sc.)
- Policy and Strategic Studies (B.Sc.)
- Political Science (B.Sc.)
- Psychology and Counselling (B.Sc.)
College of Law (newly announced — subject to NUC accreditation)
Postgraduate School
- PGD, M.Sc., MBA, and Ph.D. programmes across multiple colleges
For the complete and most up-to-date list of programmes, visit covenantuniversity.edu.ng/study/undergraduate or see the latest news below.
Admission Requirements
UTME (Undergraduate) Admission
- A minimum of five (5) O’Level credit passes including English Language and Mathematics, obtained in not more than two sittings in WAEC, NECO, GCE O’Level, or NABTEB.
- A minimum JAMB UTME score of 180 is required. Candidates must select Covenant University as their institution of first choice on JAMB.
- Candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application.
- All eligible candidates must participate in the Post-UTME screening exercise conducted by the university. Screening can be done online or on-site at the campus.
- Required documents include birth certificate, JAMB result slip, WAEC or NECO result, and a letter of sponsorship. All documents should be in PDF format, not exceeding 200 KB.
Direct Entry Admission
- Candidates with relevant A’Level passes, ND (Upper Credit), or HND qualifications may apply for Direct Entry.
- O’Level and departmental requirements apply in addition.
Postgraduate Admission
- A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of Second Class Lower Division.
- NYSC Discharge or Exemption certificate.
- Relevant professional and academic requirements per department apply.
Apply Online: admissions.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Admission Portal: admportal.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Please see the latest news below or visit the school website for the most current admission requirements and deadlines.
School Fees
Covenant University operates a fully residential all-inclusive fee structure. The school fees cover tuition, accommodation, three meals daily from university-approved cafeterias, health insurance (HMO), all academic textbooks and materials, utilities, cable TV, caution fees, and academic gown costs. There are no hidden semester charges — all costs are bundled into one annual payment.
The last known school fees for the 2024/2025 academic session at CU range from approximately ₦937,500 to ₦1,002,500 per session for 100-level students, depending on the programme. Some known course-level fees include:
- Accounting: ₦977,500
- Architecture: ₦977,500
- Banking and Finance: ₦937,500
- Business Administration: ₦937,500
- Demography and Social Statistics: ₦937,500
- Economics: ₦937,500
- Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management: ₦937,500
- International Relations: ₦977,500
- Marketing: ₦937,500
- Policy and Strategic Studies: ₦977,500
- Political Science: ₦977,500
- English Language: ₦977,500
- Mass Communication / Public Relations and Advertising: ₦977,500
- Psychology / Counselling: ₦977,500
- Sociology: ₦937,500
- Biochemistry: ₦984,500
- All Engineering Courses: ₦1,002,500
- Building Technology: ₦977,500
- Computer Science: ₦977,500
- Microbiology: ₦984,500
- Physics / Mathematics: ₦984,500
- Industrial Chemistry: ₦977,500
- Management Information Systems: ₦977,500
- Estate Management: ₦977,500
As students progress through the programme, fees typically decrease from 200 Level onwards. Returning student fees are approximately ₦817,500 — ₦857,500 per session depending on the course.
The hostel accommodation fee is approximately ₦185,000 per session (this may be included in the total amount above or charged separately — confirm from the official fees page). All payments are made 100% upfront via the CU student portal. No instalment payments are permitted. Payments are made online via card or via designated bank channels using a generated PIN and receipt number.
Covenant University does not offer Medicine and Surgery — please see the latest news below or visit the school website for updates on the newly announced College of Law and any other new programmes.
Please see the latest news below or visit covenantuniversity.edu.ng for the most current and officially confirmed school fees schedule, as fees are subject to annual review.
Cut-off Mark
The last known JAMB cut-off mark for Covenant University is 180 for all courses. This is higher than the 160 baseline set by JAMB for all Nigerian universities. Given the highly competitive nature of admissions at CU, candidates are strongly advised to aim for scores well above 180 to improve their chances of being offered admission, especially for high-demand programmes such as Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, and Mass Communication.
Please see the latest news below or visit the school website for the most current departmental cut-off mark information.
Post-UTME / Screening Information
Covenant University conducts a Post-UTME screening exercise for all eligible JAMB candidates. Screening can be done online or on-site at the campus. Candidates are required to create an application account using their email address, verify the account, log in, pay the form fee by card, and complete the application. Candidates should keep their username and password safe for future access.
Apply: admissions.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Admission Portal: admportal.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Please see the latest news below or visit the school website for the most current Post-UTME dates, form fees, and requirements.
Hostel / Accommodation
Covenant University operates a fully residential campus system based in Canaanland, Ota. All students are expected to live on campus, and accommodation is strongly encouraged, especially for 100-level students and final-year students. The last known hostel accommodation fee is approximately ₦185,000 per session, covering room allocation, utilities, and maintenance. Students who require reserved halls should submit payment proof to the Student Affairs division after completing payment on the student portal.
Cooking in hostels is not allowed. Students take their meals from university-approved cafeterias, which serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Personal mobile phones are not permitted on campus, in line with the university’s strict lifestyle policy.
Please see the latest news below or visit the school website for the most current hostel fees and accommodation application procedures.
Notable Alumni
Covenant University has produced a growing number of prominent Nigerians in entertainment, academia, and public service. Some verified notable alumni include:
- Ini Dima-Okojie — award-winning Nollywood actress and screen producer
- Bez Idakula (Bez) — acclaimed Nigerian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
- Ishaya Bako — Nigerian film director and screenwriter
- Gbubemi Fregene — celebrated Nigerian chef and food entrepreneur
- Sheriff Folarin — former professor of International Relations and politician
Official Website and Portal Links
Contact Information
Covenant University (CU) Km. 10, Idiroko Road Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State Nigeria
Phone: +234 1 790 1081 Website: www.covenantuniversity.edu.ng
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where is Covenant University located? Covenant University is located in Canaanland, Km. 10, Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria.
When was Covenant University established? CU was founded by Bishop David Oyedepo and formally opened on 21st October 2002. The vision started in October 1999, one month after the dedication of the Faith Tabernacle in Ota.
Is Covenant University a Christian university? Yes. CU is affiliated with Living Faith Church Worldwide (Winners’ Chapel) and is rooted in Pentecostal Christian values. Campus life includes mandatory chapel attendance, dress code enforcement, and mobile phone restrictions to foster a focused learning environment.
What is CU’s ranking? Covenant University is ranked No. 1 in Nigeria and No. 1 in West Africa by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020. It was also the first Nigerian university ranked in the top 401 — 500 globally by THE. In 2021, it was ranked the best private university in Nigeria by Webometrics.
Does Covenant University offer Medicine and Surgery? No. As of the last known information, Covenant University does not offer Medicine and Surgery. However, a new College of Law has been announced by the Chancellor. Please see the latest news below or visit the school website for updates on new programmes.
What is the JAMB cut-off mark for Covenant University? The last known cut-off mark is 180 for all programmes. Candidates should aim for higher scores given the competitive nature of CU admissions. Please see the latest news for the most current figure.
How much are Covenant University school fees? The last known fees for the 2024/2025 session range from approximately ₦937,500 to ₦1,002,500 per session for 100-level students, covering tuition, accommodation, feeding, health insurance, books, utilities, and other costs. Please see the latest news below or visit the official website for current fees.
Does Covenant University allow instalment payment of fees? No. Covenant University requires 100% upfront payment of school fees. No instalment plans are available. Payments are made online via card or through designated bank channels.
Is hostel accommodation compulsory at Covenant University? Accommodation is strongly encouraged and effectively compulsory for practical purposes since CU operates as a fully residential campus. The last known hostel fee is approximately ₦185,000 per session. Cooking in hostels is prohibited.
Are mobile phones allowed at Covenant University? No. Covenant University does not allow students to bring personal mobile phones onto campus. This policy is enforced to minimise distractions and promote academic focus.
Does Covenant University offer postgraduate programmes? Yes. CU offers PGD, M.Sc., MBA, and Ph.D. programmes through its Postgraduate School. Visit covenantuniversity.edu.ng/study/postgraduate for more details.
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