UI Defeats OAU, UNILAG, UNILORIN, Others, Emerges Nigeria’s Best University (See Full List)

 

The University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has reclaimed its position as Nigeria’s best university in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.

The latest ranking, published on THE’s official website on Thursday, placed the University of Ibadan between 801 and 1,000 globally, making it the highest-ranked institution in Nigeria. This marks a major comeback for the premier university, which last held the top spot in 2023 before slipping to fourth place in 2025.

According to THE, the 2026 ranking assessed 2,191 universities from 115 countries, based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas; teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

UI outperformed other leading Nigerian universities including the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University Kano (BUK), Covenant University (CU), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), which ranked lower in the global table.

Following UI in the national ranking are UNILAG (801–1000), BUK (1001–1200), Covenant University (1001–1200), and Landmark University (1001–1200).

Further down the list, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka are all placed within the 1201–1500 range.

The report highlighted specific strengths among Nigerian universities: UNILAG ranked highest in research quality with a score of 66.7; BUK led in international outlook; while Covenant University achieved the highest industry connection score.

In total, 51 Nigerian universities featured in the 2026 global ranking. However, only UI and UNILAG made it into the top 1,000 globally; a category that indicates world-class performance in research and teaching.

The Times Higher Education noted that the 2026 rankings were based on over 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications and survey responses from more than 108,000 scholars worldwide.

 

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