UI, UNILAG Beat UNN, UNILORIN, Others to Emerge Nigeria’s Best Universities
The University of Ibadan (UI) has emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked university in the July 2026 edition of the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.
The latest ranking assessed 32,148 universities and higher education institutions globally, with UI placing 1,291st worldwide to occupy the top position in Nigeria.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) followed closely, ranking 1,355th globally and second among Nigerian universities. The University of Nigeria (UNN) secured third place nationally and 1,397th globally.
Covenant University, Ota, came fourth in Nigeria with a global ranking of 1,522, while Landmark University ranked fifth nationally and 1,659th worldwide.
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) placed sixth among Nigerian universities, ranking 1,883rd globally. Obafemi Awolowo University followed in seventh position nationally and 1,986th globally.
Ahmadu Bello University ranked eighth in Nigeria and 2,068th worldwide, while the University of Port Harcourt and Federal University of Technology, Akure, occupied the ninth and tenth positions nationally, ranking 2,077th and 2,203rd globally respectively.
Other Nigerian institutions featured among the leading universities include Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Bayero University Kano, University of Calabar, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Benin, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, University of Uyo and Lagos State University.
The ranking also listed several other Nigerian universities, including the National Open University of Nigeria, University of Abuja, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, University of Jos, University of Maiduguri, Osun State University, Pan-Atlantic University, Redeemer’s University and Delta State University.
Globally, Harvard University maintained the number one position, followed by Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The University of Oxford ranked fourth, while the University of Washington occupied fifth place.
Cornell University, the University of Michigan, the University of California, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University and Columbia University completed the global top 10.
The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities is published twice a year and evaluates institutions using indicators connected to their online visibility, openness and research excellence. The ranking is intended to measure universities’ digital presence, access to scholarly resources and broader research impact.
About the Publisher: Mayaki Nuriyah.
My name is Mayaki Nuriyah. I don't really have a nickname, so I'm often called Nuriyah. I'm a student of University of Ilorin, History and international studies department. I'm an ambitious, simple and focused person. As a proud Reporter of this great team, I'm strongly committed to the growth of the team, contributing my energy to the fullest, to ensure quality reporting. And this has been shaping my journalism journey and will still continue shaping it.