UI Tops Latest University Rankings, Beats Covenant University

The University of Ibadan (UI), located in Oyo State, has been recognized as Nigeria’s top university in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

The ranking, which was published on Thursday on THE’s official website, placed UI in the global range of 801–1,000, marking a comeback for the university to a position it last occupied in 2023. The institution advanced from fourth position in the 2025 rankings, surpassing Covenant University, which had been ranked first in 2024 and 2025.

THE assessment 2,191 universities from 115 countries using 18 performance indicators categorized into five main areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

In Nigeria’s ranking, UI was followed by the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), and Covenant University (CU), which were ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively.

The 2026 global rankings also indicate a shifting landscape in higher education, utilizing data from 174.9 million citations across 18.7 million research publications and feedback from over 108,000 academics globally.

Among Nigerian institutions, UNILAG received the highest score for research quality at 66.7 points. BUK was recognized for having the best international outlook, while Covenant University excelled in industry engagement.

Out of the 51 Nigerian universities included in the 2026 rankings, only UI and UNILAG were listed in the 801–1,000 band. BUK, CU, and Landmark University were situated in the 1,001–1,200 range, while Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka were classified within the 1,201–1,500 range.

In addition, 14 Nigerian universities were ranked below 1,500, while 27 institutions received “not ranked” status.

THE is an independent organization with global recognition, providing data and insights regarding higher education performance.

Universities qualify for inclusion in the rankings if they offer undergraduate programs, engage in multidisciplinary research, and have published a minimum of 1,000 research papers between 2020 and 2024, averaging at least 100 annually.

See the full list below

. Admiralty University of Nigeria
. Ahmadu Bello University
. Akwa Ibom State University
. AlHikmah University
. Augustine University
. Babcock University
. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti
. Bauchi State University, Gadau
. Bayelsa Medical University
. Bayero University
. Baze University
. Bells University of Technology
. Bowen University
. Covenant University
. Delta State University, Abraka
. Ekiti State University
. Evangel University, Akaeze
. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
. Federal University of Lafia
. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
. Federal University of Technology, Akure
. Federal University of Technology, Minna
. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
. Federal University OyeEkiti
. Fountain University
. Godfrey Okoye University
. Igbinedion University Okada
. Kaduna State University
. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
. Lagos State University
. Lagos State University of Education
. Lagos State University of Science and Technology
. Landmark University
. Lead City University
. Maryam Abach, an American University of Nigeria
. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
. Obafemi Awolowo University
. Redeemer’s University
. Rivers State University
. Thomas Adewumi University
. University of Benin
. University of Calabar
. University of Cross River State
. University of Delta.
. University of Ibadan
. University of Ilorin
. University of Jos
. University of Lagos
. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
. University of Port Harcourt