The University of Ibadan (UI) is back on top! According to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, UI has reclaimed its spot as Nigeria’s number one university, landing in the 801–1000 global band.
This marks a triumphant return for UI, which last held the crown in 2023 before Covenant University took the lead in 2024 and 2025. Now, the tables have turned, and UI has dusted off rivals like UNILAG, Covenant, UNN, and OAU to shine once again.
How the Rankings Work
The 2026 edition assessed 2,191 universities across 115 countries, using 18 performance indicators grouped under:
– Teaching
– Research environment
– Research quality
– Industry engagement
– International outlook
With 174.9 million citations, 18.7 million publications, and input from 108,000 scholars worldwide, the rankings are no small feat.
UI: Nigeria’s top-ranked university overall.
UNILAG: Also made it into the 801–1000 global band, with the highest research quality score (66.7).
BUK (Bayero University Kano): Led in international outlook.
Covenant University: Shone brightest in industry engagement, thanks to strong private sector ties.
Nigeria’s Top Universities 2026
Here’s the full list of the top 24 Nigerian universities in the 2026 rankings:
1. University of Ibadan
2. University of Lagos
3. Bayero University Kano
4. Covenant University
5. Landmark University
6. Ahmadu Bello University
7. Federal University of Technology, Minna
8. University of Ilorin
9. University of Jos
10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
11. Babcock University
12. Delta State University, Abraka
13. Ekiti State University
14. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
15. Federal University of Technology, Akure
16. Federal University of Technology, Owerri
17. Federal University Oye-Ekiti
18. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
19. Lagos State University
20. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
21. Obafemi Awolowo University
22. University of Benin
23. University of Calabar
24. University of Port Harcourt
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