UI and Two Other Varsities Rank Among Nigeria’s Top Universities in 2027 THE World Rankings

Covenant University, the University of Ibadan (UI), and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have jointly emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

The three institutions were placed in the 801–1000 global ranking band, according to the latest rankings published by Times Higher Education.

Nigeria recorded 29 ranked universities in the 2027 edition, an increase from 24 institutions in the 2026 rankings. Five universities — Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — made the rankings for the first time.

Covenant University returned to the top position among Nigerian institutions after placing third in the previous edition, while UI and UNILAG had jointly occupied the highest Nigerian position in the 2026 rankings.

The rankings assess research-intensive universities using 17 performance indicators across five major areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry.

Top-ranked Nigerian universities

1. Covenant University — 801–1000
2. University of Ibadan — 801–1000
3. University of Lagos — 801–1000
4. Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200
5. Bayero University — 1001–1200
6. Landmark University — 1001–1200
7. University of Ilorin — 1001–1200
8. Babcock University — 1201–1400
9. Osun State University — 1201–1400
10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400

Other Nigerian institutions featured across the 2027 rankings, including the Federal University of Technology, Minna; Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Obafemi Awolowo University; University of Benin; University of Jos; University of Maiduguri; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Lagos State University; and others.

According to THE, the 2027 rankings cover 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories.

Among individual performance indicators, UNILAG recorded Nigeria’s highest research-quality score at 67.8, while Bayero University had the strongest international outlook score among Nigerian institutions. Covenant University recorded the country’s highest industry score.

Globally, the University of Oxford retained the number-one position for the 11th consecutive year. In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution, rising to joint 147th globally.

Nigeria also had the highest number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa, with 29 institutions.