WorldStage– The Federal Ministry of Education has disclosed that 29 Nigerian universities have secured spots in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, up from 24 in the previous edition.
Overview of the 2027 Rankings
According to a statement issued in Abuja by Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the milestone gives Nigeria the highest number of ranked universities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Sixty-one (61) Nigerian institutions engaged with the ranking exercise, which included 29 ranked universities and 32 listed in the THE Reporter category.
“Five Nigerian universities made their debut appearance on the global list. These new entrants are Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Boriowo stated.
The 2027 THE rankings evaluated 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories using 17 performance indicators across five pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry engagement.
The Federal Ministry of Education attributed the country’s expanded global footprint to sector-wide initiatives driven by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, under the supervision of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
Covenant University, the University of Ibadan, and the University of Lagos share the highest national standing, positioned together in the global 801–1000 band.
The University of Lagos also recorded the highest national score for research quality at 67.8.
Federal institutions continue to anchor Nigeria’s performance in the upper tiers, accounting for 71.4 percent of Nigerian universities placed in the global top 1,200.
Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University, and the University of Ilorin occupy positions in the 1001–1200 band.
Federal authorities said that inclusion in global indices serves as a practical diagnostic tool rather than mere prestige.
The Federal Ministry of Education noted that the initiative reflects the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiatives (NESRI), which focuses on evidence-based institutional performance, research capacity, and healthy institutional competition.
To sustain and accelerate this growth, the ministry directed the Nigeria Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NITERAC), chaired by Professor Peter Okebukola, to implement a comprehensive national ranking framework.
This domestic framework assesses tertiary institutions across 22 specific indicators to improve institutional accountability and global visibility.
Professor Okebukola noted that while Nigeria’s numerical dominance in Sub-Saharan Africa is a positive indicator, institutions must continue to improve in core metrics like international academic reputation, doctoral output, and cross-border research collaborations to climb higher into top global performance bands.
