The vision of the University is to be a first class institution committed to imparting knowledge and to extending its frontiers, using the best of Man and Machine.

Established in 1975 by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as part of the country's Third Development Plan (1975 - 1980), academic activities began a year later on the site of the then North-East College of Arts and Science. At the time, there were 743 students enrolled for degree programmes in three composite Faculties, namely, Arts and Education, Science, and Social Sciences and Law.

Today, with its 25,000 students, ten faculties, a College of Medicine and numerous specialised centres and units, the University is truly living up to its ethos as captured in the motto, ilm tonto, the Kanuri language expression that translates Through learning, we serve.

The reputation of the University derives from the experience and dynamism of its staff, and is reflected in the quality of its graduates who are at the commanding heights of the economy and other sectors of society.

The University is located on Bama Road, and is reachable by cab within 10 - 15 minutes from any port of arrival in the city. Maiduguri is served by an airport, which places it one hour away from Nigeria's capital, Abuja, and two hours away from the commercial centre of Lagos. A network of Federal and State roads place such other Nigerian cities as Kano, Jos and Yola some 5-6 hours away.