Nigeria’s Best-Performing Universities In 2027 Global Rankings Emerge

Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have emerged among Nigeria’s highest-ranked institutions in the newly released 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the three universities were placed within the 801–1000 global ranking band in the latest edition released on Wednesday, September 30. Times Higher Education said Nigeria recorded the highest number of ranked universities in Africa, with 29 institutions featuring in the 2027 global rankings.

The 2027 edition also saw several Nigerian institutions added to the global rankings, including Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Kwara State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

The Nigerian universities and their respective ranking bands are Covenant University, University of Ibadan and University of Lagos, all in the 801–1000 band; Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University and University of Ilorin in the 1001–1200 band.

Babcock University, Osun State University and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka were placed in the 1201–1400 band, while the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Jos and University of Maiduguri occupied the 1401–1600 band.

The Federal University of Technology, Akure was ranked in the 1601–1800 band, while the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and the University of Calabar were placed in the 1801–2000 band.

Delta State University, Abraka, Ekiti State University, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Kwara State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and the University of Port Harcourt were listed in the 2001+ category.

Times Higher Education said its 2027 World University Rankings assess research-intensive universities across areas including teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry engagement. The methodology uses 17 performance indicators, including research productivity, citation impact, academic reputation and industry income.

Globally, the 2027 rankings feature 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories. The University of Oxford retained the number-one position for an 11th consecutive year, while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology remained second. China’s Tsinghua University moved to 11th position, becoming the highest-ranked university in Asia.

The latest ranking also marks a broader increase in Nigeria’s representation in global higher education tables, with the country recording 29 ranked institutions in this edition.