The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) is the umbrella organization for Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal, State and Private Universities. Up till the late 80’s, all the universities in the country were owned by the Federal Government but because of the need to expand access, State Governments too started to set up their own universities.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) was established in October of 1962 by the Vice-Chancellors of the then-existing Federal University and Regional Universities. The pioneer members were; Professor. Kenneth O. Dike, University of Ibadan; Professor Eni Njoku, University of Lagos; Dr, Gorge Marion Johnson, University of Nigerian Nsukka ; Professor Norman Alexander, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; and Professor G.A Ajose, University of Ife. The Committee started as a forum for discussing problems affecting the universities, exchanging information and ideas on how Vice–Chancellors can resolve challenges at their local levels and more importantly, take common positions on the implementation of policies and directives of Government as it affects Higher Education in the country. Expressly, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors was set up by its founding members to discuss, review and take a joint stand on how best practices in Nigerian Universities. In the same year, the National Universities Commission was established as an arm of the cabinet by the Federal Government to oversee all matters relating to Higher Education.

In January 1994 the body was formally registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission as “Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities”. The constitution of the body allowed for automatic membership once a University is licensed by the National Universities Commission and approved by the Federal Government. However, following the approval granted by the Federal Government to allow State Governments to establish their Universities in the 1980s, the Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities felt the need to bring everybody on board under the same umbrella, without prejudice to the existing forum for Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities. That led to the formation of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) in July 1994. By 1999, when license were granted for the establishment of private Universities, all Vice-Chancellors from Federal, State or Private Universities came under the umbrella of the Association. However, under a caveat, each segment is allowed to operate and deal with peculiar matters that affect them because of their different proprietors. Thus the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities (CVCNFU), the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian State Universities (CVCNSU) and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Nigerian Private Universities (CVCRPU) exist as independent bodies, but all come under the umbrella of the CVCNU