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The number of Nigerian universities featured in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings has risen from 24 to 29, according to the latest edition of the global ranking.
The 2027 THE World University Rankings, released on Wednesday, show that three Nigerian universities, Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos, occupy the country’s highest-ranking band at 801 to 1,000 globally.
Globally, the University of Oxford retained the top spot for an 11th consecutive year, while the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked university in sub-Saharan Africa at joint 147th globally, up from joint 164th in the previous edition.
Here are the 10 highest-ranked Nigerian universities in the 2027 THE ranking, presented from the lower end of the list to the highest-ranked band.
10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is ranked within the 1,201 to 1,400 band globally in the 2027 THE World University Rankings, appearing at the tenth spot.
The university was formally opened on October 7, 1960, and describes itself as Nigeria’s first full-fledged indigenous and autonomous university.
UNN has three campuses in Enugu State, located in Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla.
9. Osun State University
Osun State University places ninth among Nigerian universities in this edition. It also falls within the 1,201 to 1,400 band globally.
The university is one of five Nigerian institutions newly included in the THE World University Rankings in 2027.
Osun State University was established by the Osun State Government in December 2006 and operates as a multi-campus institution. Its main campus is in Osogbo, with other campuses in Okuku, Ikire, Ejigbo, Ifetedo and Ipetu-Ijesa.
8. Babcock University
Babcock University is also ranked within the 1,201 to 1,400 band globally in the 2027 rankings, appearing on the eighth spot.
The private university is located in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, and was established by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The institution began operations in 1959 as the Adventist College of West Africa and was formally inaugurated as Babcock University in 1999.
7. University of Ilorin
The University of Ilorin is ranked seventh in this edition of the global ranking, also falling within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally.
The federal university was established in 1975 and is located in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Its 2027 position represents an improvement from the 1,201 to 1,500 band in the 2026 THE World University Rankings.
6. Landmark University
Landmark University sits in the sixth spot among Nigerian universities ranked in this edition. It is also ranked within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally.
The private university is located in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, and was established by the Living Faith Church Worldwide. It was officially commissioned in March 2011.
Landmark University was also in the 1,001 to 1,200 band in the 2026 rankings.
5. Bayero University
Bayero University is ranked the fifth Nigerian university in this edition of the Times Higher Education ranking, falling within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally.
The institution traces its origins to Ahmadu Bello College, which was established in Kano in 1960.
In 1977, the Federal Government raised the institution to full university status, after which it became Bayero University, Kano.
4. Ahmadu Bello University
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is also ranked within the 1,001 to 1,200 band globally in the 2027 rankings, appearing on the fourth spot in this edition.
The university was established on October 4, 1962, as the University of Northern Nigeria and is located in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The university was named after Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premier of Northern Nigeria.
3. University of Lagos
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is in the 801 to 1,000 global ranking band, placing it among Nigeria’s three highest-ranked universities in the 2027 edition. It ranks as the third Nigerian univerity in this band.
Its scores across THE’s five broad performance areas were 21.2 for teaching, 20.8 for research environment, 67.8 for research quality, 31.3 for industry and 45.6 for international outlook.
Its research quality score of 67.8 was the highest recorded by a Nigerian university in the 2027 rankings.
The University of Lagos was established in 1962 and is based in Lagos.
2. University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan (UI) is also ranked within the 801 to 1,000 band globally in the 2027 rankings, coming second in the band.
Its scores were 31.2 for teaching, 19.9 for research environment, 64.9 for research quality, 22.2 for industry and 44.9 for international outlook.
Established in 1948 as University College Ibadan, the institution became a full-fledged independent university in 1962. The University of Ibadan describes itself as Nigeria’s first university.
1. Covenant University
Covenant University ranks as the 1st Nigerian university in the 801 to 1,000 global ranking band in the 2027 THE World University Rankings.
The private university recorded an overall score range of 36.4 to 40.1.
Its scores were 21.4 for teaching, 32.5 for research environment, 49.8 for research quality, 61.0 for industry and 48.6 for international outlook.
Covenant University has operated as a private Christian university in Ota, Ogun State, since 2002.
The institution returned to the top in the 2027 edition after placing fourth in the 2026 rankings.
Nigeria’s representation in the 2027 ranking
Nigeria has 29 universities in the 2027 THE World University Rankings, an increase from 24 in the 2026 edition. Nigeria has the largest number of ranked universities among countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Five Nigerian universities made their debut in the 2027 rankings. They are Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, the number of ranked institutions increased from 55 to 69.
Globally, THE ranked 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories in 2027, compared with 2,191 universities in the previous edition.
What THE measures
The 2027 World University Rankings use 17 performance indicators grouped into five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
THE also introduced more granular ranking bands in the 2027 edition, allowing more universities to be differentiated across the global table.
