Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have jointly emerged as Nigeria's highest-ranked universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. All three sit in the 801–1000 band globally, according to the list Times Higher Education published on Wednesday.
More Nigerian universities made the list
Nigeria now has 29 ranked universities, up from 24 in the 2026 edition. Five institutions appear for the first time: Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Covenant University also moved up within the country. It ranked third among Nigerian institutions last year, when the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos shared the top spot. This year, all three share it.
Who came next
Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University followed in the 1001–1200 band. Landmark University and the University of Ilorin sit in the same band.
Where Nigerian universities stood out
THE also pointed to individual strengths among the Nigerian schools
- Research quality: the University of Lagos scored highest among Nigerian universities, with 67.8.
- International outlook: Bayero University recorded the top score.
- Industry: Covenant University came first among Nigerian institutions.
The wider picture
The 2027 edition covers 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories. It uses 17 performance indicators grouped into five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
The University of Oxford kept the top global position for an 11th year in a row. In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town ranked highest, rising to joint 147th from joint 164th. The number of ranked universities in the region grew from 55 to 69, and Nigeria has more of them than any other country there.
Full list of ranked Nigerian universities
801–1000
- Covenant University
- University of Ibadan
- University of Lagos
1001–1200
- Ahmadu Bello University
- Bayero University
- Landmark University
- University of Ilorin
1201–1400
- Babcock University
- Osun State University
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
1401–1600
- Federal University of Technology, Minna
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University
- Obafemi Awolowo University
- University of Benin
- University of Jos
- University of Maiduguri
1601–1800
- Federal University of Technology, Akure
1801–2000
- Federal University of Technology, Owerri
- Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
- Lagos State University
- Olabisi Onabanjo University
- University of Calabar
2001+
- Delta State University, Abraka
- Ekiti State University
- Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
- Federal University Oye-Ekiti
- Kwara State University
- Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
- University of Port Harcourt
Why some universities are not on the list
THE also named 33 Nigerian institutions as "reporter" universities. They gave the organisation their data but did not meet the requirements for a numerical rank. To qualify, a university must teach undergraduates, do research across a range of subjects and publish at least 1,000 research papers between 2021 and 2025, with a minimum of 100 in each of those years.
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