Nigeria’s presence in the global higher education landscape has expanded, with 29 universities featuring in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, compared with 24 institutions listed in the previous edition.

Covenant University, the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) jointly recorded the strongest performance among Nigerian institutions, placing within the 801–1,000 bracket globally.

The latest ranking, released by Times Higher Education (THE), places the three universities ahead of other Nigerian institutions assessed in the 2027 edition.

Covenant University regained its position at the top of Nigeria’s university rankings after finishing behind UI and UNILAG in the 2026 edition, when the two federal universities shared the highest position nationally.

The 2027 result therefore represents a return to the leading position for the Ota-based private university, although the three institutions occupy the same global ranking band.

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and Bayero University, Kano (BUK), followed as Nigeria’s fourth- and fifth-ranked institutions respectively.

Five universities made their debut in the latest ranking, namely Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

THE said the 2027 ranking covers 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, making it one of the broadest assessments of research-intensive universities worldwide.

The ranking evaluates institutions using 17 performance indicators grouped under five major areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.

Among the Nigerian universities, individual institutions recorded notable strengths in specific areas.

UNILAG posted the country’s highest score for research quality, with 67.8, while BUK emerged with the strongest international outlook. Covenant University recorded Nigeria’s highest industry score, reflecting its performance in the institution-industry engagement category.

Globally, the University of Oxford maintained its position as the world’s number one university for the 11th consecutive year.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town in South Africa was the region’s highest-ranked institution, moving from joint 164th position in the previous edition to joint 147th in the 2027 ranking.

THE said the number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa also increased significantly, from 55 in the 2026 edition to 69 in 2027, with Nigeria accounting for the largest national representation with 29 institutions.

Beyond the ranked institutions, 33 other Nigerian universities were listed as “reporters” in the latest exercise.

According to THE, reporter institutions are universities that submitted data for the ranking but did not satisfy all the eligibility requirements necessary to receive a numerical ranking.

For an institution to qualify for the 2027 World University Rankings, THE said it must teach undergraduates, conduct research across a range of subjects and have produced at least 1,000 research publications between 2021 and 2025, with a minimum of 100 publications in each year.

Times Higher Education is an independent global higher education data and analysis organisation whose World University Rankings are widely used to assess the performance of universities internationally.

The 2027 edition thus places Nigeria among the countries with the largest representation in the expanding sub-Saharan African university rankings, while highlighting significant differences in the areas in which individual Nigerian institutions perform most strongly.

Full list of ranked Nigerian universities

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 33 Nigerian institutions listed as “reporter” institutions are:

1. Abia State University
2. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
3. Adamawa State University
4. Ajayi Crowther University
5. Akwa Ibom State University
6. Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye
7. Al-Hikmah University
8. Ambrose Alli University
9. Augustine University
10. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti
11. Bayelsa Medical University
12. Baze University
13. Bells University of Technology
14. Bingham University
15. Bowen University
16. Evangel University, Akaeze
17. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
18. Federal University Otuoke
19. Fountain University
20. Godfrey Okoye University
21. Igbinedion University Okada
22. Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University
23. Lagos State University of Education
24. Lagos State University of Science and Technology
25. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria
26. Michael and Cecilia Ibru University
27. Miva Open University
28. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
29. Nile University of Nigeria
30. Plateau State University, Bokkos
31. Rivers State University
32. University of Cross River State
33. University of Delta