The University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have emerged as Nigeria’s top-ranked universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, reaffirming their positions as the country’s foremost centres of academic excellence and research leadership.
The ranking, released on Thursday, October 9, 2025, placed both UI and UNILAG in the 801–1000 band out of more than 2,191 institutions assessed globally. They were followed by Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and Covenant University (CU), which both ranked within the 1001–1200 range, while Landmark University also featured in the same category.
According to THE, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s most authoritative university ranking bodies, institutions were evaluated using 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.
The University of Ibadan, which moved from fourth place in 2025 to reclaim its top spot in 2026, dethroned Covenant University, which had led in the 2024 and 2025 editions. The University of Lagos maintained its strong performance, sharing the top Nigerian position with UI.
Outside Nigeria, UNILAG shares its 801–1000 global bracket with other internationally respected institutions, including the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), Cairo University (Egypt), Alexandria University (Egypt), Ain Shams University (Egypt), and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico).
The 2026 ranking also reflects a shift in the global higher education landscape, with over 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars analysed across participating institutions.
In Nigeria, UNILAG ranked highest in research quality, scoring 66.7, while BUK emerged best in international outlook, and Covenant University topped in industry engagement, highlighting the diverse strengths of Nigerian universities across different areas of performance.
Out of 51 Nigerian universities featured in this year’s ranking, only UI and UNILAG placed between 801–1000, followed by BUK, CU, and Landmark University (1001–1200). Other notable Nigerian institutions appeared in the 1201–1500 band, including Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Reacting to the development, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, expressed pride in the university’s achievement, describing it as a testament to UNILAG’s enduring commitment to world-class teaching, research, and innovation.
“This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of our staff, students, alumni, and partners,” Ogunsola said. “We remain committed to raising the bar in research excellence, community impact, and academic integrity.”
Similarly, the University of Ibadan community celebrated its renewed leadership status, describing it as a validation of decades of sustained investment in academic quality, global collaboration, and intellectual capital.
Below is the list of Nigeria’s top-ranking universities in the THE 2026 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+ band include Babcock University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Lagos State University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Calabar, and University of Port Harcourt, among others.
With this performance, Nigeria continues to consolidate its presence on the global higher education map, with UI and UNILAG setting the pace in academic excellence, innovation, and research output across Africa.
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