By: Tunji Okunlola
Nigeria has achieved a historic milestone in global higher education, with 24 universities securing places in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings and Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, making it the highest number of Nigerian institutions ever featured in the rankings.
The achievement also cements Nigeria’s position as the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa, surpassing the 21 institutions listed in both the 2024 and 2025 editions.
The University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos continue to lead the country’s contingent as its top-ranked institutions, with Bayero University Kano also emerging as one of Nigeria’s standout performers this year.
The full list of 24 reflects the breadth of Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape: 17 federal universities, four state universities, and three private universities are represented, signalling broad-based improvement across institution types rather than isolated excellence.
Notably, the 2026 edition highlights growing global recognition for Nigeria’s specialised institutions, with federal universities of technology and agriculture featuring prominently. State-owned universities have also continued to improve their standings, driven by stronger research output and institutional performance metrics.
The 24 ranked Nigerian universities are:
- University of Ibadan
- University of Lagos
- Bayero University, Kano
- Covenant University
- Landmark University
- Ahmadu Bello University
- Federal University of Technology, Minna
- University of Ilorin
- University of Jos
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- Babcock University
- Delta State University, Abraka
- Ekiti State University
- Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
- Federal University of Technology, Akure
- Federal University of Technology, Owerri
- Federal University Oye-Ekiti
- Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
- Lagos State University
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University
- Obafemi Awolowo University
- University of Benin
- University of Calabar
- University of Port Harcourt