Prosper Okoye
For the first time, 24 Nigerian universities have been listed in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject.
Released on the 21 of January 2026, the listing makes Nigeria the most represented in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The rankings cover 11 subjects, including Law, Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Arts and Humanities, and Social Sciences.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelProfessor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), described the achievement as a “testament to the resilience and growing academic strength of Nigeria.”
He attributed the improvement to sustained efforts by previous and current administrations, including President Bola Tinubu’s recent initiatives to enhance university staff welfare and research facilities.
In Law, the University of Ibadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, entered the global top 400. In Medical and Health Sciences, the University of Ibadan ranks in the 301–400 band, with the University of Lagos in the 401–500 bracket.
Other institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University, are ranked 601–800. In Computer Science, Landmark University ranks 501–600, followed by Covenant University and the University of Ilorin in the 601–800 range. In Social Sciences, Covenant University and the University of Ibadan are in the 501–600 band.
Okebukola highlighted that the rankings are based on research output, teaching quality, citations, international outlook, and industry engagement, and reflect Nigeria’s growing influence in global scholarship. He added: “Nigerian universities are no longer just participating; they are competing at a level that commands global recognition.”
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NURAC, a body dedicated to improving the international visibility of Nigerian higher education, will continue working with the National Universities Commission to maintain and improve these standards.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
