The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State has been ranked as Nigeria's number one university in research quality, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. UNILORIN scored 69.4 per cent, the highest by any Nigerian university ranked this year. This achievement was announced at the World Academic Summit hosted by the University of Cape Town, South Africa. The ranking assesses universities on five pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry.
The University of Ilorin's management released a statement highlighting the ranking, which was made available by the University's Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun. According to the statement, research quality is UNILORIN's strongest area, and the university aims to convert this into wider international recognition and work towards the 801–1000 band in the next edition. The university's ranking result was released last Wednesday.
An analysis of the results shows that UNILORIN has been lifted from the 1201–1500 band in 2026 into the 1001–1200 world band. The university is now one of the seven Nigerian universities in the global top 1,200. Mr. Akogun stated that UNILORIN is ahead of the University of Lagos, Bayero University, Kano, and the University of Ibadan on quality research, which carries 30% of the overall score and measures how widely a university's research is cited by scholars worldwide.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, reacted to the development, saying that this outcome is not accidental but a reflection of years of patient, disciplined scholarship by colleagues who publish work that the world reads and cites. He thanked every lecturer, researcher, postgraduate supervisor, and student whose work contributed to the positive rankings of the university.
The University Ranking Implementation Project Manager, Prof. Suleiman Folorunso Ambali, was quoted in the statement, emphasizing that research quality is UNILORIN's strongest turf. The university's achievement in research quality is a significant milestone, demonstrating its commitment to academic excellence.
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings is a widely recognized ranking system that assesses universities globally. The rankings provide a comprehensive evaluation of universities, taking into account various parameters such as teaching, research environment, and international outlook. UNILORIN's achievement in the rankings is a testament to its growing reputation as a leading academic institution.
The University of Ilorin's achievement is expected to boost its reputation and attract more students, researchers, and international collaborations. The university's commitment to research excellence and its strong performance in the rankings demonstrate its potential to become a leading academic institution in Nigeria and globally.
Key points
- University of Ilorin is Nigeria's top university in research quality
- UNILORIN scored 69.4 per cent in research quality
- University aims to achieve international recognition and move up the rankings
