The Federal University of Lafia (formerly Federal University, Lafia) is a public university in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. It was established on 9 February 2011 as one of nine new federal universities created under the Federal Government’s university expansion programme to increase access to higher education.
The university commenced academic activities in September 2012 with new students that made up the first set of students to be trained by the university Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ekanem Ikpi Braide.
In October 2025, Professor Mohammed Isa Kida was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of the university for a five-year term, succeeding Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman. His appointment took effect on 11 February 2026.
Site Initially, the university was to be sited along Jos road in Lafia metropolis and it was meant to begin operation using the facilities of the College of Agriculture in Lafia, however, the university's temporary site was changed to Obi road outside Lafia metropolis. In 2015, the university began relocating to its permanent location on 206 hectares of land provided by the Nasarawa State Government along the Lafia-Markudi Road in Lafia. By 2018, the central administration and the majority of faculties had successfully relocated to the university's permanent site, with the exception of two faculties. The university has an intranet for its own use.
Faculties and Departments Federal University of Lafia has multiple faculties and academic departments offering undergraduate and professional programmes. These include: S/No. Faculty Department 1. Agriculture Agricultural Economics and Extension Agronomy Animal Science Aquaculture Fishery Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) 2. Arts Creative and Visual Arts English French History and International Studies Theatre and Media Arts 3. College of Medicine Anatomy Medical Laboratory Science Nursing Science Physiology Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Nutrition and Dietetics 4. Computing Computer Science Cyber Security Information Technology 5. Physical Sciences Chemistry Geography Mathematics Physics Statistics 6. Social Sciences Economics Mass Communication Philosophy Political Science Sociology 7. Environmental Sciences Quantity Surveying Urban and Regional Planning 8. Law Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) 9. Management Science 10. Medical Laboratory Science 11. Nursing 12. Pharmaceutical Science 13. Education 14. Radiography and Applied Health Sciences 15. Basic Clinical Sciences 16. Basic Medical Sciences 17. Clinical Sciences 18. Veterinary 19. Life Sciences Zoology Botany Microbiology Plant Science And Biotechnolgy Science Laboratory Technology Biochemistry 20. College of Health Sciences 21. Environmental Design 22. College of Postgraduate Studies 23. School of Basic and Remedial Studies
The university has continued to expand its academic offerings following approvals from the National Universities Commission (NUC). In 2025, the NUC approved six new full-time academic programmes for the university to commence in the 2025/2026 academic session, namely Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying, Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning, Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M).
Vice-Chancellors Professor Ekanem Ikpi Braide: 2012–2016 Professor Muhammad Sanusi Liman: 2016-2021 Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman: 2021-2026 Professor Mohammed Isa Kida: 2026–present
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