FULL LIST: UI emerges Nigeria’s best varsity for 2026

 University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has been ranked Nigeria’s best university in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.

The ranking, published on THE’s website on Thursday, placed the Ibadan-based federal university between 801 and 1,000 globally and ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, a spot it last held in 2023.

THE surveyed 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and assessed them based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

UI came from fourth position in 2025 to emerge as Nigeria’s best in the 2026 ranking. It dethroned Covenant University, which was the best university in 2024 and 2025.

Following UI are the University of Lagos, Bayero University, and CU, ranked second, third, and fourth in Nigeria, respectively.

The 2026 list reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications analysed and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars collected globally.

THE rankings also show the strength of individual institutions. UNILAG is ranked highest in quality research, scoring 66.7.

BUK is ranked as the best Nigerian university in terms of international outlook, while Covenant has the highest industry score, indicating its top connection to industries.

Out of 51 Nigerian institutions featured in THE 2026 ranking, only UI and UNILAG fall between 801–1000; BUK, CU, and Landmark University fall between 1001–1200; while five schools—Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, University of Nigeria—stand globally between 1201–1500.

Also, 14 Nigerian universities were categorised above 1501, and 27 institutions were not ranked.

See the full list

1. University of Ibadan (801–1000)
   
2. University of Lagos (801–1000)
   
3. Bayero University (1001–1200)
   
4. Covenant University (1001–1200)
   
5. Landmark University (1001–1200)
   
6. Ahmadu Bello University (1201–1500)
   
7. Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500)
   
8. University of Ilorin (1201–1500)
   
9. University of Jos (1201–1500)
   
10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201–1500)
    
11. Babcock University (1501+)
    
12. Delta State University, Abraka (1501+)
    
13. Ekiti State University (1501+)
    
14. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+)
    
15. Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+)
    
16. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+)
    
17. Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+)
    
18. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+)
    
19. Lagos State University (1501+)
    
20. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+)
    
21. Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+)
    
22. University of Benin (1501+)
    
23. University of Calabar (1501+)
    
24. University of Port Harcourt (1501+)
    
25. Admiralty University of Nigeria
    
26. Akwa Ibom State University
    
27. Al-Hikmah University
    
28. Augustine University
    
29. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti
    
30. Bauchi State University, Gadau
    
31. Bayelsa Medical University
    
32. Baze University
    
33. Bells University of Technology
    
34. Bowen University
    
35. Evangel University, Akaeze
    
36. Federal University of Lafia
    
37. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
    
38. Fountain University
    
39. Godfrey Okoye University
    
40. Igbinedion University Okada
    
41. Kaduna State University
    
42. Lagos State University of Education
    
43. Lagos State University of Science and Technology
    
44. Lead City University
    
45. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria
    
46. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
    
47. Redeemer’s University
    
48. Rivers State University
    
49. Thomas Adewumi University
    
50. University of Cross River State
51. University of Delta