The statute that established the University outlines the following objectives:

1. To be a center of academic excellence, committed to the achievement of accelerated development, through research and human capital development;
2. To encourage and promote the advancement of learning and hold out to all persons, without discrimination, as to race, creed, sex, religious or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring university education;
3. To enhance the development of acceptable societal values and qualitative leadership traits through the inculcation of sound moral principles and ethics of excellence, success, national unity and service to humanity;
4. To encourage and promote scholarship and to conduct research in areas of human endeavours;v. To relate its activities to the cultural, technological, social and economic needs of the people of Nigeria and beyond.
5. To provide courses of instruction and other facilities for the pursuit of learning in all its branches, and make those facilities available on proper terms to such persons as are equipped to benefit from them; and
6. To undertake any other activities appropriate for a university of the highest standard and such other activities as the University may decide in furtherance of acquisition of knowledge.