The University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, has been ranked Nigeria’s best university in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
The ranking, released on Thursday via THE’s official website, placed UI within the 801–1,000 band globally—reclaiming a position it last held in 2023. The institution moved up from fourth place in the 2025 rankings to surpass Covenant University, which had topped the list in 2024 and 2025.
THE evaluated of 2,191 institutions from 115 countries based on 18 performance indicators grouped under five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.
Following UI in Nigeria’s ranking are the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), and Covenant University (CU), ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively.
The 2026 global ranking also reflected a changing higher education landscape, drawing on 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars worldwide.
Among Nigerian universities, UNILAG achieved the highest score in research quality, with 66.7 points. BUK ranked best for international outlook, while Covenant University led in industry engagement.
Of the 51 Nigerian universities featured in the 2026 ranking, only UI and UNILAG were placed within the 801–1,000 band. BUK, CU, and Landmark University were ranked between 1,001–1,200, while Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, and University of Nigeria Nsukka fell within the 1,201–1,500 range.
Additionally, 14 Nigerian universities were placed above 1,500, while 27 institutions were listed as “not ranked.”
THE is a globally recognised independent organisation that provides data and insights on higher education performance.
Universities are considered for the rankings if they teach undergraduates, produce multidisciplinary research, and have published at least 1,000 research papers between 2020 and 2024, with a minimum of 100 annually.
See the full list below:
1. University of Ibadan (801–1000)
2. University of Lagos (801–1000)
3. Bayero University (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)
11. Babcock University (1501+)
12.Delta State University, Abraka (1501+)
13. Ekiti State University (1501+)
14. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+)
15. Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+)
16. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+)
17. Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+)
18. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+)
19. Lagos State University (1501+)
20. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+)
21. Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+)
22. University of Benin (1501+)
23. University of Calabar (1501+)
24. University of Port Harcourt (1501+)
25. Admiralty University of Nigeria
26. Akwa Ibom State University
27. Al-Hikmah University
28. Augustine University
29. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti
30. Bauchi State University, Gadau
31. Bayelsa Medical University
32. Baze University
33. Bells University of Technology
34. Bowen University
35. Evangel University, Akaeze
36. Federal University of Lafia
37. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
38. Fountain University
39. Godfrey Okoye University
40. Igbinedion University Okada
41. Kaduna State University
42. Lagos State University of Education
43. Lagos State University of Science and Technology
44. Lead City University
45. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria
46. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
47. Redeemer’s University
48. Rivers State University
49. Thomas Adewumi University
50. University of Cross River State
51. University of Delta.
