Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Twenty-nine Nigerian universities have been ranked in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, up from 24 in the 2026 edition, with Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos jointly emerging as the country's highest-ranked institutions, all placed in the 801–1000 global band.
The rankings, published on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, assessed 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories using 17 performance indicators grouped into five broad pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry. Nigeria's 29 ranked institutions make it the most represented country in sub-Saharan Africa, which recorded 69 ranked universities in the latest edition, up from 55 in 2026. Five universities made their debut in the ranked category: Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Covenant University returned to the top position among Nigerian universities after it was ranked third in the 2026 edition, when UI and UNILAG jointly occupied the highest Nigerian position.
The three South-West institutions are followed by Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University and the University of Ilorin, all placed in the 1001–1200 band. Babcock University, Osun State University and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, occupy the 1201–1400 band, while the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Benin, the University of Jos and the University of Maiduguri sit in the 1401–1600 band. The Federal University of Technology Akure is ranked in the 1601–1800 band, while the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and the University of Calabar occupy the 1801–2000 band. Delta State University Abraka, Ekiti State University, Federal University Lokoja, Kwara State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, the University of Uyo and one other institution are placed in the 2001+ band. In terms of ownership, 19 federal universities, seven state universities and three private universities were ranked.
The rankings highlighted specific strengths among Nigerian universities. The University of Lagos recorded the highest research quality score among Nigerian institutions with 67.8 points. Bayero University, Kano, posted the strongest international outlook score, while Covenant University recorded the highest industry score, reflecting its performance in university-industry linkages. UNILAG's overall scores were 21.2 for teaching, 20.8 for research environment, 67.8 for research quality, 31.3 for industry and 45.6 for international outlook, with an overall score range of 36.4–40.1. Covenant University recorded 21.4 for teaching, 32.5 for research environment, 49.8 for research quality, 61.0 for industry and 48.6 for international outlook. The University of Ibadan posted 31.2 for teaching, 19.9 for research environment, 64.9 for research quality, 22.2 for industry and 44.9 for international outlook.
Osun State University, one of the debutants, emerged as Nigeria's highest-ranked state-owned university, securing a joint eighth position nationally. It scored 25.6 in research environment, the second-highest among the 29 ranked Nigerian universities behind Covenant University's 32.5, and 23.6 in teaching, placing fifth nationally. Its other scores were 43.8 in research quality, 17.6 in industry and 40.3 in international outlook. The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, lauded the Osun State government and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the institution's growth, saying the university would continue to build on the achievement and pursue initiatives aimed at strengthening its academic and research profile and positioning it for greater global recognition.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee, Professor Peter Okebukola, said the increase in the number of ranked Nigerian universities should prompt closer attention to areas where the country continues to lag. He identified global academic reputation as the single biggest lever for improving Nigeria's performance, noting that reputation-related measures account for 33 per cent of the overall ranking score. His assessment showed that research quality was Nigeria's strongest ranking pillar with a mean score of 43.3, while research environment and teaching recorded mean scores of 13.9 and 20.6 respectively. He called for improved research funding, increased doctoral output, deeper international collaboration, more accurate institutional data submission and stronger industry engagement and patenting. Okebukola also disclosed that the committee had commenced work on a national ranking of Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education following a directive from the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, using 22 indicators, with completion expected before December 15, 2026.
The Federal Government reinforced that timeline, setting December 15, 2026, as a strict deadline for completing a comprehensive national ranking of all tertiary institutions. Alausa said, "We cannot afford complacency in our tertiary sector. By expanding this ranking to include polytechnics and colleges of education, we are ensuring that no segment of our higher education ecosystem is left behind." The urgency for a robust national framework was underscored by Nigeria's mixed results in the 2027 THE rankings. While 29 Nigerian universities secured ranked spots, only 29 of the 328 universities recognised by the National Universities Commission made the main competitive list. A further 32 Nigerian universities were listed as Reporters, having submitted data but not met the requirements for inclusion in the ranked table, with 16 of those being private universities, 12 state-owned and four federal.
Globally, the University of Oxford retained the number one position for an 11th consecutive year. In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution, rising to joint 147th position from joint 164th in the previous edition. The 2027 edition also marked the first time that Asia ranked ahead of continental Europe in the overall regional comparison, with three Asian universities appearing in the global top 15. China's Tsinghua University climbed to 11th place, overtaking Switzerland's ETH Zurich, while the National University of Singapore moved into the global top 15.
For Nigerian students and their families, the rankings offer a reference point but not a definitive guide. Placement in a band does not mean an institution ranks at a precise position, and sharing a band does not necessarily mean universities received identical scores. Course accreditation, fees, facilities and the strength of the specific department a student wishes to study remain important considerations that rankings alone cannot capture. For the universities themselves, the rankings serve as a diagnostic tool, highlighting areas of strength and weakness as the sector awaits the national ranking that will provide a more comprehensive assessment of institutional performance across all three tiers of tertiary education.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments