COVENANT, UI, UNILAG LEAD NIGERIA’S UNIVERSITIES IN 2027 GLOBAL RANKING
Read Time:2 Minute, 42 Second
By; Sunmola Ganiyat
Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The three institutions were jointly placed in the 801–1000 band globally, according to the ranking released by Times Higher Education on Wednesday.
Nigeria recorded 29 ranked universities in the 2027 edition, an increase from 24 institutions in the 2026 ranking. Five universities — Osun State University, University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — were newly ranked.
University of Ibadan
University of Lagos entrance
Covenant University reclaimed its position as the highest-ranked Nigerian university after ranking third in the 2026 edition, when the University of Ibadan and University of Lagos jointly occupied the top position.
The three institutions were followed by Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University, which ranked fourth and fifth among Nigerian universities respectively, both falling within the 1001–1200 global band.
The Times Higher Education ranking assesses research-intensive universities based on five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
For the 2027 edition, THE assessed 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories, using 17 performance indicators across the five pillars.
Globally, the University of Oxford retained the number-one position for the 11th consecutive year, while the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked university in sub-Saharan Africa, rising to joint 147th position.
THE said the number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa increased from 55 in the previous edition to 69 in 2027, with Nigeria having the highest number of ranked institutions in the region.
Among Nigerian universities, UNILAG recorded the highest score for research quality at 67.8, while Bayero University was ranked highest nationally for international outlook. Covenant University recorded the highest industry score among Nigerian institutions.
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 institutions as reporter institutions. These universities submitted data but did not meet all the eligibility requirements for inclusion in the ranked list.
According to THE, institutions must teach undergraduates, conduct research across a range of subjects and have published at least 1,000 research publications between 2021 and 2025, with a minimum of 100 publications in each year, to qualify for the 2027 World University Rankings.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0