Full List: 24 Nigerian Universities Make the 2026 Times Higher Education Rankings

Nigeria has recorded its strongest-ever showing in global university rankings, with 24 institutions earning places in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings and THE Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings up from 21 in both the 2024 and 2025 editions. The milestone makes Nigeria the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa on this year's list, ahead of every other nation in the region. If you're a prospective student, parent, or just curious how your school (or dream school) stacks up, here's everything you need to know. Nigeria's Top Performers The University of Ibadan retained its position as Nigeria's highest-ranked institution, followed closely by the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Bayero University, Kano (BUK) rounded out the top three, emerging as the country's third-best performing university this year. Together, these three schools led a field that included a healthy mix of federal, state, and private universities a sign that strong performance is no longer limited to Nigeria's oldest or most famous institutions. The Full List of 24 Nigerian Universities 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 The Breakdown: Who's Represented Of the 24 universities on the list: 17 are federal universities 4 are state-owned universities 3 are private universities This spread reflects broad-based improvement across Nigeria's tertiary education system federal, state, and private schools all gained visibility this year, not just the usual frontrunners. Specialised institutions also had a strong showing, with several federal universities of technology and agriculture (like FUTMinna, FUTA, FUTO, and FUNAAB) earning spots alongside the more traditional comprehensive universities. A Regional Gap Worth Noting Interestingly, only four universities from the South-South geopolitical zone made the list: Delta State University, Abraka (12th nationally); University of Benin (22nd); University of Calabar (23rd); and University of Port Harcourt (24th). It's a reminder that, even as Nigeria's overall numbers climb, regional representation in global rankings still varies significantly across the country. What the Rankings Actually Measure THE's World University Rankings assess institutions across several key areas, including: Teaching (the learning environment) Research environment and quality Industry engagement / knowledge transfer International outlook In other words, this isn't just about reputation it's a data-driven comparison covering thousands of universities across more than 100 countries.