By - Covenant University reclaims a share of Nigeria’s top ranking, tying with the University of Ibadan and UNILAG in the 801-1000 global band
- Nigeria now has 29 ranked universities in the Times Higher Education 2027 list, up from 24 the year before, the most of any sub-Saharan African country
- Five institutions, including Osun State University and the University of Maiduguri, earned a global ranking for the first time this year
Nigeria has expanded its footprint in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings, with three of its institutions, Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos, tying for the country’s highest global placement in the 2027 edition published Wednesday.
All three landed in the 801-1000 band worldwide, marking a return to the top for Covenant University after it slipped to third place last year when UI and UNILAG briefly shared the lead. Rounding out Nigeria’s top five are two Northwest institutions, Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University, placed fourth and fifth nationally within the 1001-1200 global band.
A Record Year for Nigerian Representation
The country recorded 29 ranked universities this year, a jump from 24 in the 2026 edition, making it the most represented nation in sub-Saharan Africa on the list. Five institutions cracked the rankings for the first time, Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Times Higher Education said the broader regional picture also grew, with the number of ranked sub-Saharan African institutions climbing from 55 last year to 69 this year, and Nigeria contributing the largest single share of that increase.
The rankings themselves are built on 17 performance indicators spanning five categories, teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement, and this year’s edition covers 2,297 institutions across 118 countries. Globally, the University of Oxford held onto the number one spot for an 11th straight year, while the University of Cape Town remained sub-Saharan Africa’s top-ranked institution, climbing to a joint 147th position from joint 164th previously.
Within Nigeria, individual strengths varied by category. UNILAG posted the country’s highest research quality score at 67.8, Bayero University led on international outlook, and Covenant University recorded the strongest industry engagement score among Nigerian institutions.
Full List of Ranked Nigerian Universities
801-1000: Covenant University, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos
1001-1200: Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University, University of Ilorin
1201-1400: Babcock University, Osun State University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
1401-1600: Federal University of Technology, Minna; Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Obafemi Awolowo University; University of Benin; University of Jos; University of Maiduguri
1601-1800: Federal University of Technology, Akure
1801-2000: Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology; Lagos State University; Olabisi Onabanjo University; University of Calabar
2001+: Delta State University, Abraka; Ekiti State University; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Federal University Oye-Ekiti; Kwara State University; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike; University of Port Harcourt
Reporter Institutions
A further 33 Nigerian institutions submitted data but fell short of the eligibility bar needed for a formal rank, earning “Reporter” status instead. They include Abia State University, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Adamawa State University, Ajayi Crowther University, Akwa Ibom State University, Aletheia University, Al-Hikmah University, Ambrose Alli University, Augustine University, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education Science and Technology, 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, 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 included in the ranked tables at all, an institution must teach undergraduates, publish research across multiple subject areas, and have produced at least 1,000 research publications between 2021 and 2025, with a minimum of 100 published per year, according to THE’s stated methodology.
