Nigeria has increased its presence in global higher education, with 29 Nigerian universities featured in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, the highest representation by any country in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos emerging as the country’s highest-ranked institutions.
The two universities were jointly placed in the 801–1000 global band in the rankings released by Times Higher Education (THE) on Wednesday.
The development reflects ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, according to a statement by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.
The ministry said the development represents a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the quality, competitiveness, and international visibility of Nigerian universities.
It said the reform agenda places greater emphasis on research excellence, innovation, institutional performance, and global competitiveness.
According to the 2027 THE World University Rankings, the number of Nigerian universities included in the global rankings rose from 24 to 29, with five institutions making their debut.
Another 32 Nigerian universities were listed in the THE Reporter category, bringing the total number of Nigerian institutions participating in the ranking exercise to 61.
The ministry said federal universities recorded particularly strong performances, with five of the seven Nigerian universities placed among the global top 1,200 being federal institutions, representing 71.4 percent of Nigeria’s universities in that category.
The University of Ibadan and University of Lagos retained their positions in the 801–1000 band, while Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ilorin moved into the 1001–1200 band, joining Bayero University, which retained its position.
The ministry further said federal universities occupied all six Nigerian positions in the 1401–1600 band, highlighting their contribution to the country’s improved global ranking profile.
Five of the seven Nigerian universities that recorded clear upward movement were federal institutions: Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ilorin, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and University of Benin.
Boriowo said the increase in the number of Nigerian universities participating in the THE rankings demonstrates progress under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education, implemented through the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
She said NESRI’s reform direction is also reflected in the Federal Ministry of Education’s focus on evidence-based institutional performance, research capacity, and healthy competition across the tertiary education system.
According to the ministry, participation in global rankings should not be viewed solely as recognition but also as a mechanism for benchmarking institutional performance, identifying gaps, and promoting continuous improvement.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa has directed the Nigeria Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NITERAC), led by Professor Peter Okebukola, to commence the 2026 national ranking of Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The national ranking is designed to promote healthy competition, improve institutional visibility, and strengthen the ability of Nigerian tertiary institutions to compete internationally.
The emerging ranking framework, being developed in consultation with stakeholders, will assess tertiary institutions using 22 indicators to provide an evidence-based assessment of institutional strengths and areas requiring improvement.
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