Twenty-nine Nigerian universities have been ranked in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, an increase from 24 institutions in the 2026 edition. This development indicates a growing presence of Nigerian universities on the global academic stage. The rankings, published by Times Higher Education, assess research-intensive universities based on five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry.
Covenant University, the University of Ibadan, and the University of Lagos have jointly emerged as the highest-ranked Nigerian universities, placed in the 801-1,000 band globally. These three South-West-based institutions have demonstrated strong academic performance, with Covenant University returning to the top position among Nigerian universities after dropping to third place in the previous edition.
The 2027 rankings cover 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, using 17 performance indicators under the five broad pillars. The University of Oxford retained its number-one position for the 11th consecutive year, while the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution in sub-Saharan Africa, moving up to joint 147th position from joint 164th in the previous edition.
Five new Nigerian universities have been ranked in the 2027 edition: Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. These additions reflect the growing academic diversity and excellence in Nigeria.
The University of Lagos recorded the highest research quality score among Nigerian universities at 67.8. This achievement highlights the institution's research strengths and contributions to the global academic community. The rankings also show that Nigeria has the most universities ranked in sub-Saharan Africa, with 29 in total.
Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University occupy fourth and fifth positions among Nigerian institutions, respectively. The Times Higher Education rankings provide a comprehensive evaluation of universities worldwide, offering insights into their performance and research quality.
The number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa increased from 55 in the previous edition to 69 in the 2027 rankings. This growth demonstrates the region's expanding academic presence and commitment to excellence in education.
Key points
- Covenant University, the University of Ibadan, and the University of Lagos are Nigeria's highest-ranked universities in the 2027 edition.
- The University of Lagos recorded the highest research quality score among Nigerian universities at 67.8.
- Nigeria has the most universities ranked in sub-Saharan Africa, with 29 in total.
