Times Higher Education World University Rankings: 2026 Best Universities In Nigeria {Full List}

Times Higher Education World University Rankings

 

OpenLife News reports that Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have emerged as Nigeria’s best universities in the latest Times Higher Education,

World University Rankings

The three South-West-based institutions were jointly ranked in the 801-1000 band globally, making them the highest-ranked Nigerian universities in the ranking published on THE’s website on Wednesday.

Nigeria also improved its showing with 29 ranked universities in the 2027 edition of the rankings, up from 24 universities ranked in the 2026 edition. Five universities made their debut on the list.

The newly ranked universities are Osun State University, University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

Covenant University has returned to the top in Nigeria after losing the spot last year. In the 2026 edition, UI and UNILAG jointly held the top position while Covenant dropped to third. In this year’s edition, all three are tied at 801-1000.

Behind them are two North-West universities – Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University Kano, ranked 4th and 5th in Nigeria respectively and placed in the 1001-1200 band globally.

The THE World University Rankings assesses research-intensive universities across five pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry, using 17 performance indicators.

According to THE, the 2027 ranking covers 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories. Globally, the University of Oxford retained its number one position for an 11th consecutive year, while in Sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town is the highest-ranked, rising to joint 147th from joint 164th last year.“The number of ranked institutions in sub-Saharan increased from 55 last year to 69 this year. Nigeria has the most universities ranked, with 29 in total,” THE said.

For individual performance, UNILAG scored highest in Nigeria for research quality with 67.8, Bayero University Kano, BUK, ranked highest for international outlook, while Covenant University topped in industry income, showing strongest linkage with industry.

Full List of Ranked Nigerian Universities

Covenant University – 801–1000

University of Ibadan – 801–1000

University of Lagos – 801–1000

Ahmadu Bello University – 1001–1200

Bayero University – 1001–1200

Landmark University – 1001–1200

University of Ilorin – 1001–1200

Babcock University – 1201–1400

Osun State University – 1201–1400

University of Nigeria, Nsukka – 1201–1400

Federal University of Technology, Minna – 1401–1600

Nnamdi Azikiwe University – 1401–1600

Obafemi Awolowo University – 1401–1600

University of Benin – 1401–1600

University of Jos – 1401–1600

University of Maiduguri – 1401–1600

Federal University of Technology, Akure – 1601–1800

Federal University of Technology, Owerri – 1801–2000

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 1801–2000

Lagos State University – 1801–2000

Olabisi Onabanjo University – 1801–2000

University of Calabar – 1801–2000

Delta State University, Abraka – 2001+

Ekiti State University – 2001+

Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 2001+

Federal University Oye-Ekiti – 2001+

Kwara State University – 2001+

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike – 2001+

University of Port Harcourt – 2001+

THE also listed 33 Nigerian universities as “reporter” institutions – institutions that submitted data but did not meet the eligibility criteria to receive a rank.

The reporter institutions are: Abia State University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Adamawa State University, Ajayi Crowther University, Akwa Ibom State University, Aletheia University Ago-Iwoye, Al-Hikmah University, Ambrose Alli University, Augustine University, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology Ikere-Ekiti.

Others are  Bayelsa Medical University, Baze University, Bells University of Technology, Bingham University, Bowen University, Evangel University Akaeze, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Federal University Otuoke, Fountain University, Godfrey Okoye University, Igbinedion University Okada, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University.

The list include Lagos State University of Education, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Miva Open University, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Nile University of Nigeria, Plateau State University Bokkos, Rivers State University, University of Cross River State and University of Delta.

To be ranked in THE World University Rankings 2027, universities must teach undergraduates, produce research across a range of subjects and have published at least 1,000 research publications between 2021 and 2025, with a minimum of 100 per year.