29 Nigerian Universities Enter Times Higher Education’s 2027 Global Rankings

Nigeria’s presence in the global higher-education landscape has expanded, with 29 universities appearing in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, up from 24 institutions in the previous edition.

Covenant University, the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) share the highest position among the Nigerian institutions, each placed within the 801–1000 band globally.

The latest ranking, published by Times Higher Education on Wednesday, covers 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories. THE assessed the institutions using 17 performance indicators grouped into five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.

Covenant University’s return to the top position among Nigerian universities marks a change from the 2026 edition released in October last year. UI had led the Nigerian table in that edition, with Covenant University in second place and UNILAG in third.

In the 2027 ranking, Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University follow the three institutions in the 1001–1200 band, while Landmark University and the University of Ilorin are also placed within the same range.

The scores of the three leading Nigerian universities reveal different areas of strength. Their overall scores range from 36.4 to 40.1, but their performances across THE’s five assessment pillars vary considerably.

UI recorded 31.2 points in teaching, compared with 21.4 for Covenant University and 21.2 for UNILAG. In research environment, Covenant scored 32.5, while UI recorded 19.9 and UNILAG 20.8.

Research quality produced stronger figures for UI and UNILAG, which recorded 64.9 and 67.8 respectively. Covenant University scored 49.8 in the same category.

Covenant University, however, recorded the strongest figures among the three in the industry and international outlook categories, with scores of 61.0 and 48.6. UNILAG posted 31.3 and 45.6 respectively, while UI recorded 22.2 and 44.9.

The expansion of Nigeria’s representation also comes from five institutions appearing in the ranking for the first time in the latest edition: Osun State University, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

The increase from 24 ranked Nigerian universities in 2026 to 29 in 2027 provides a picture of the country’s higher-education institutions within the global assessment.

At the top of the global table, the University of Oxford retained first place for an 11th consecutive year. In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town remained the highest-ranked institution, climbing from joint 164th position in the previous edition to joint 147th.

The complete Nigerian representation in the 2027 Times Higher Education ranking is:

1. Covenant University — 801–1000
2. University of Ibadan — 801–1000
3. University of Lagos — 801–1000
4. Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200
5. Bayero University — 1001–1200
6. Landmark University — 1001–1200
7. University of Ilorin — 1001–1200
8. Babcock University — 1201–1400
9. Osun State University — 1201–1400
10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400
11. Federal University of Technology, Minna — 1401–1600
12. Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 1401–1600
13. Obafemi Awolowo University — 1401–1600
14. University of Benin — 1401–1600
15. University of Jos — 1401–1600
16. University of Maiduguri — 1401–1600
17. Federal University of Technology, Akure — 1601–1800
18. Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 1801–2000
19. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 1801–2000
20. Lagos State University — 1801–2000
21. Olabisi Onabanjo University — 1801–2000
22. University of Calabar — 1801–2000
23. Delta State University, Abraka — 2001+
24. Ekiti State University — 2001+
25. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 2001+
26. Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 2001+
27. Kwara State University — 2001+
28. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 2001+
29. University of Port Harcourt — 2001+

The 2027 edition therefore places an expanded range of Nigerian universities within a global framework that measures not only classroom teaching, but also research capacity, research influence, international engagement and links with industry.