Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, is enjoying a
moment of national recognition after emerging as the Best State University in
Nigeria in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, a
distinction that highlights the institution’s steady rise within the country’s
higher education landscape.
The ranking also places EKSU 12th among roughly 300
universities nationwide, a remarkable position for a university established 44
years ago in what was once regarded as a quiet hinterland location. Over the
decades, the institution has gradually built a reputation for academic growth,
research development, and institutional stability, qualities that are now
attracting global acknowledgement.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Babatola Ayodele described the
recognition as encouraging for the university community, noting that the
institution remains committed to sustaining the standards that have earned it
international attention while continuing to contribute meaningfully to society.
Over the years, the university has consistently appeared
on global academic radar through recognition by ranking bodies such as
Webometrics, Web of Universities, and U.S. News & World Report, reflecting
its increasing visibility in global academic conversations.
The recognition arrives at a time when the university is
preparing to celebrate another important milestone in its history, its 30th
convocation ceremony, during which 10,959 students will be awarded diplomas,
bachelor’s degrees, and higher degrees. The graduating class represents a new
generation of scholars shaped by the institution’s evolving academic
environment.
As part of the celebrations, EKSU will honour two of its
distinguished alumni. Mr Abayomi Adeyeri and Mr Akinsanmi Falaki are set to
receive Honorary Doctorates of Finance (Honoris Causa) in recognition of their
leadership roles and service to humanity.
Behind the recognition lies a period of steady institutional
expansion. Within the past year, the university has increased its number of
faculties from 12 to 14, broadening its academic reach and creating new
opportunities for learning and research. EKSU has also begun the process of
introducing postgraduate programmes in Nursing Science, while postgraduate
programmes in Medicine have already commenced successfully.
Another significant milestone for the university is that all
its academic programmes now have full approval from the National Universities
Commission (NUC), strengthening confidence in the institution’s academic
framework.
Institutional progress has also been accompanied by
deliberate attention to staff welfare as salaries and pensions continue to be
paid consistently, while arrears of allowances are being settled in a
structured manner that ensures other critical administrative activities remain
unaffected. Promotions for eligible staff members have also been processed as
they become due.
In 2025, the university promoted 111 academic staff members,
including 24 Professors, 47 Readers, 25 Senior Lecturers, 10 Lecturer I, and
five Lecturer II. The promotion exercise also extended to non-academic staff,
with 590 personnel advancing in their careers, comprising 411 senior
administrative and technical staff and 179 junior non-teaching staff.
Academic engagement within the university has remained
active as well. Over the past year, 15 inaugural lectures were delivered,
continuing a long-standing tradition that allows professors to share insights
from their research while contributing knowledge to society.
The institution’s growth has also benefited from the
continued support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), particularly
in areas such as infrastructure development and staff training. EKSU has
equally received backing from several prominent Nigerians and organisations
involved in projects across the university.
For Prof. Ayodele, the ambition is to keep building a
university capable of competing confidently on both national and global stages
while remaining committed to the needs of society. The recognition from Times
Higher Education, he believes, reinforces the university’s direction and
provides further motivation to strengthen its legacy.
From its beginnings more than four decades ago to its
present status as Nigeria’s highest-ranked state university, EKSU’s journey
illustrates how sustained leadership, institutional focus, and academic
discipline can elevate a university from modest origins into a nationally
celebrated centre of learning.
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