The number of Nigerian universities featured in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings has risen from 24 to 29, according to the latest edition of the global ranking.
The 2027 THE World University Rankings, released on Wednesday, show that three Nigerian universities, Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos, occupy the country’s highest-ranking band at 801 to 1,000 globally.
Globally, the University of Oxford retained the top spot for an 11th consecutive year, while the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked university in sub-Saharan Africa at joint 147th globally, up from joint 164th in the previous edition.
Below are the 10 highest-ranked Nigerian universities in the 2027 THE ranking, presented from the lower end of the list to the highest-ranked band.
10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is ranked within the 1,201 to 1,400 band globally, appearing at the tenth spot among Nigerian universities.
The university was formally opened on October 7, 1960, and describes itself as Nigeria’s first full-fledged indigenous and autonomous university. UNN has three campuses in Enugu State, located in Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla.
Osun State University places ninth among Nigerian universities in this edition, also falling within the 1,201 to 1,400 band globally.
It is one of five Nigerian institutions newly included in the THE World University Rankings for 2027.
The university was established by the Osun State Government in December 2006 and operates as a multi-campus institution, with its main campus in Osogbo and others in Okuku, Ikire, Ejigbo, Ifetedo and Ipetu-Ijesa.
Babcock University is ranked within the 1,201 to 1,400 band globally, appearing eighth among Nigerian universities.
The private university is located in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, and was established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It began operations in 1959 as the Adventist College of West Africa before being formally inaugurated as Babcock University in 1999.
The University of Ilorin is ranked seventh among Nigerian universities, falling within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally.
The federal university was established in 1975 and is located in Ilorin, Kwara State. Its 2027 position represents an improvement from the 1,201 to 1,500 band in the 2026 rankings.
Landmark University sits in sixth place among Nigerian universities, also ranked within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally.
The private university is located in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, and was established by the Living Faith Church Worldwide. It was officially commissioned in March 2011 and held the same ranking band in 2026.
Bayero University is ranked fifth among Nigerian universities, falling within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally.
The institution traces its origins to Ahmadu Bello College, established in Kano in 1960. In 1977, the Federal Government raised it to full university status, after which it became Bayero University, Kano.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is ranked within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally, appearing fourth among Nigerian universities.
The university was established on October 4, 1962, as the University of Northern Nigeria and is located in Zaria, Kaduna State. It was named after Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is in the 801 to 1,000 global ranking band, placing it among Nigeria’s three highest-ranked universities and third in this band.
Its scores across THE’s five performance areas were 21.2 for teaching, 20.8 for research environment, 67.8 for research quality, 31.3 for industry and 45.6 for international outlook. Its research quality score of 67.8 was the highest recorded by a Nigerian university in the 2027 rankings.
The University of Lagos was established in 1962 and is based in Lagos.
The University of Ibadan (UI) is also ranked within the 801 to 1,000 band globally, coming second in this band.
Its scores were 31.2 for teaching, 19.9 for research environment, 64.9 for research quality, 22.2 for industry and 44.9 for international outlook.
Established in 1948 as University College Ibadan, the institution became a full-fledged independent university in 1962 and describes itself as Nigeria’s first university.
Covenant University ranks as the top Nigerian university in the 801 to 1,000 global ranking band in the 2027 THE World University Rankings.
The private university recorded an overall score range of 36.4 to 40.1, with scores of 21.4 for teaching, 32.5 for research environment, 49.8 for research quality, 61.0 for industry and 48.6 for international outlook.
Covenant University has operated as a private Christian university in Ota, Ogun State, since 2002. The institution returned to the top in the 2027 edition after placing fourth in 2026.
Nigeria’s representation in the 2027 ranking
Nigeria has 29 universities in the 2027 THE World University Rankings, up from 24 in the 2026 edition, the largest number of ranked universities among countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Five Nigerian universities made their debut in the 2027 rankings. They are Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, the number of ranked institutions increased from 55 to 69.
Globally, THE ranked 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories in 2027, compared with 2,191 universities in the previous edition.
What THE measures
The 2027 World University Rankings use 17 performance indicators grouped into five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
THE also introduced more granular ranking bands in the 2027 edition, allowing more universities to be differentiated across the global table.
Digital Operations Manager at The Students Forum Nigeria.
