World University Rankings 2026: UI, UNILAG, Bayero top list of Nigeria’s best
The University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos and Bayero University led the list of Nigeria’s best universities according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
The University of Ibadan, is ranked Nigeria’s best university in the recent Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, published on THE’s website on Thursday.
THE rankings placed the University of Ibadan between 801 and 1,000 globally and ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, a spot it last held in 2023.
The UK-based organization surveyed 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and assessed them based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
The Ibadan-based Nigerian premier university, which was ranked Nigeria’s fourth best university in 2025, was ddeclared as the country’s best in the 2026 ranking.
The University of Ibadan dethroned Covenant University, which was the best university in 2024 and 2025.
Following UI are the University of Lagos, Bayero University, and CU, ranked second, third, and fourth in Nigeria, respectively.
The 2026 list reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications analysed and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars collected globally.
THE rankings also show the strength of individual institutions. UNILAG is ranked highest in quality research, scoring 66.7.
BUK is ranked as the best Nigerian university in terms of international outlook, while Covenant has the highest industry score, indicating its top connection to industries.
Only UI and UNILAG fall between 801–1000; BUK, CU, and Landmark University fall between 1001–1200; while Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, University of Nigeria—stand globally between 1201–1500.
Here are the list of Nigerian universities and their rankings
University of Ibadan (801–1000); University of Lagos (801–1000); Bayero University (1001–1200); Covenant University (1001–1200);
Landmark University (1001–1200); Ahmadu Bello University (1201–1500).
Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500); University of Ilorin (1201–1500); University of Jos (1201–1500); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201–1500); Babcock University (1501+); Delta State University, Abraka (1501+); Ekiti State University (1501+); Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+).
Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+); Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+); Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+); Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+).
Others are Lagos State University (1501+); Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+); Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+); University of Benin (1501+); University of Calabar (1501+); University of Port Harcourt (1501+).
