The problem of this study was to describe higher education in relation to economic development and social change in Nigeria. The purposes of this study were (1) to identify the needs for economic development and social change in Nigeria; (2) to relate higher education goals to the identified needs; (3) to determine the perceptions of the participating groups of students, faculty members, academic administrators, and government officials about what priority of importance is being placed and should be placed on higher education goals to achieve the national needs; (4) to formulate recommendations for the future development of higher education in relation to economic development and social change in Nigeria.

The purpose of this study was to describe the influence of the federal government on higher education in Nigeria. This was done by taking a look at the historical influence of the Federal Ministry of Education, the State Ministry of Education of Nigeria, the influence of the universities and colleges on higher education, the influence of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) in higher education, and the influence of the National Universities Commission on Higher Education in Universities and Colleges in Nigeria.