UI, UNILAG Lead as Nigeria Shines in 2026 Times World University Rankings

Nigeria’s higher education sector recorded another milestone as the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) emerged as the country’s top-ranked universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings released on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

The two leading institutions both featured in the 801–1000 global ranking band, out of 2,191 universities assessed across 115 countries, reaffirming their status as the nation’s foremost centres of academic excellence and research innovation.

They were closely followed by Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Covenant University (CU), and Landmark University, which ranked within the 1001–1200 category, while several other federal and state universities appeared within the 1201–1500 and 1501+ bands.

According to the report published on THE’s website, the ranking evaluated universities based on 18 performance indicators grouped into five key areas: teaching (the learning environment), research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

The University of Ibadan reclaimed its leadership position after moving up from fourth place in 2025, displacing Covenant University, which had topped the chart for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025). UNILAG, meanwhile, maintained its strong showing, tying with UI in the 801–1000 range to become the country’s joint-best university.

Globally, the two Nigerian universities share their band with reputable institutions such as the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), Cairo University (Egypt), Alexandria University (Egypt), and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico) — an indicator of the country’s growing academic reputation.

The 2026 edition of THE’s ranking analysed more than 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications, alongside surveys from over 108,000 scholars worldwide.

In Nigeria-specific indicators, UNILAG performed best in research quality with a score of 66.7, Bayero University ranked highest in international outlook, while Covenant University led in industry engagement, showing the diverse strengths of Nigerian institutions.

Out of the 51 Nigerian universities ranked in 2026, only UI and UNILAG featured among the world’s top 1000, while the others fell into lower categories, showing a gradual but steady rise in global competitiveness among Nigerian higher institutions.

Reacting to the ranking, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, expressed delight at the institution’s performance, describing it as a validation of years of hard work, research excellence, and commitment to global standards.

“This recognition is a tribute to the collective dedication of our faculty, students, alumni, and partners. It reaffirms UNILAG’s resolve to remain a world-class centre for teaching, research, and innovation,” she said.

Similarly, UI management praised the university community for sustaining its legacy of academic leadership and research-driven progress, saying the recognition reflected “a renewed confidence in Nigeria’s intellectual capacity.”

Below is the list of Nigeria’s top 10 universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings:

1. University of Ibadan (801–1000)

2. University of Lagos (801–1000)

3. Bayero University, Kano (1001–1200)

4. Covenant University (1001–1200)

5. Landmark University (1001–1200)

6. Ahmadu Bello University (1201–1500)

7. Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500)

8. University of Ilorin (1201–1500)

9. University of Jos (1201–1500)

10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201–1500)

Others within the 1501+ global category include Babcock University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Lagos State University, University of Benin, University of Calabar, and University of Port Harcourt, among others.

With this performance, Nigerian universities continue to expand their global footprint, with UI and UNILAG once again flying the flag for the country on the international stage, demonstrating resilience, innovation, and the promise of a stronger higher education future.