Covenant University, the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
The three institutions were placed in the 801–1000 global band in the latest edition released on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Nigeria’s representation also increased from 24 universities in the 2026 edition to 29 in the latest ranking, reflecting a wider participation of Nigerian institutions in the global assessment.
The five institutions making their debut in the ranking are Osun State University, University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
The latest result marks a change from the 2026 edition, when the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos occupied the highest Nigerian position, while Covenant University was placed in the 1001–1200 band.
Covenant has now returned to the leading Nigerian group, with Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University following in the 1001–1200 band. Landmark University and the University of Ilorin are also in the same band.
THE assesses universities using 17 performance indicators grouped under five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry and international outlook.
The three leading Nigerian institutions recorded different strengths across the assessment areas. Covenant University recorded 21.4 points in teaching, 32.5 in research environment, 49.8 in research quality, 61.0 in industry and 48.6 in international outlook.
The University of Ibadan scored 31.2 in teaching, 19.9 in research environment, 64.9 in research quality, 22.2 in industry and 44.9 in international outlook.
UNILAG recorded 21.2 in teaching, 20.8 in research environment, 67.8 in research quality, 31.3 in industry and 45.6 in international outlook.
Their overall scores ranged from 36.4 to 40.1, highlighting differences in how the institutions performed across the five areas rather than a uniform strength across all categories.
Globally, the 2027 THE rankings cover 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, making it the most extensive edition so far. The University of Oxford retained the number one position for an 11th consecutive year, while the University of Cape Town emerged as the highest-ranked university in sub-Saharan Africa at joint 147th, rising from joint 164th in the previous edition.
Nigeria recorded the highest number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa, with 29 institutions appearing in the 2027 table. Across the region, the number of ranked institutions increased from 55 to 69.
The 29 Nigerian universities and their global positions are:
Covenant University — 801–1000
University of Ibadan — 801–1000
University of Lagos — 801–1000
Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200
Bayero University — 1001–1200
Landmark University — 1001–1200
University of Ilorin — 1001–1200
Babcock University — 1201–1400
Osun State University — 1201–1400
University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400
Federal University of Technology, Minna — 1401–1600
Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 1401–1600
Obafemi Awolowo University — 1401–1600
University of Benin — 1401–1600
University of Jos — 1401–1600
University of Maiduguri — 1401–1600
Federal University of Technology, Akure — 1601–1800
Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 1801–2000
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 1801–2000
Lagos State University — 1801–2000
Olabisi Onabanjo University — 1801–2000
University of Calabar — 1801–2000
Delta State University, Abraka — 2001+
Ekiti State University — 2001+
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 2001+
Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 2001+
Kwara State University — 2001+
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 2001+
University of Port Harcourt — 2001+