Public Universities Lead Renewed Drive to Expand Nigeria’s Global Academic Footprint
The Federal Ministry of Education has welcomed the strong performance of Nigerian universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, describing the achievement as evidence of the positive impact of reforms being implemented under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).
The latest rankings place the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos among Nigeria's highest-ranked universities, while Bayero University Kano emerged as one of the country's top-performing institutions. Nigeria also increased its representation in the global rankings from 21 universities in 2024 and 2025 to 24 universities in 2026, making it the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Seventeen of the ranked institutions are federal universities, reflecting improvements in research, innovation, quality assurance, governance, digital transformation, infrastructure, and human capital development. The rankings also mark a notable resurgence of public universities among the country's leading institutions.
Reacting to the development, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, said the results demonstrate the growing impact of government efforts to reposition higher education as a driver of national development.
"These rankings are more than numbers; they show that our universities are strengthening their global standing and that investments in education are yielding measurable results. They reflect the dedication of our institutions and stakeholders to advancing teaching, research, and innovation."
Dr. Alausa noted that the rankings provide credible international validation of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions, improve governance, and promote academic excellence across the sector.
He commended the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos, Bayero University Kano, Covenant University, Landmark University, Ahmadu Bello University, and other ranked institutions for their contributions to teaching, research, innovation, and national development. He added that Bayero University Kano's performance highlights the growing spread of academic excellence across the country.
The Minister emphasized that the progress recorded reflects the collective efforts of both public and private universities and underscores growing confidence in Nigeria's higher education system.
He further disclosed that, beyond the 24 institutions officially ranked in 2026, an additional 27 Nigerian universities submitted data for assessment, demonstrating an increasing commitment to accountability, institutional benchmarking, and global standards.
Reaffirming the importance of education to national development, Dr. Alausa noted that Nigeria accounts for approximately 28 per cent of Africa's fintech companies, underscoring the role of universities in producing the skilled workforce, research, and innovation required for economic growth and global competitiveness.
The Federal Ministry of Education expresses appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his steadfast support for education sector transformation, and commends the leadership, governing councils, management, academic staff, students, and stakeholders whose contributions continue to strengthen Nigeria's universities.
The Ministry remains committed to implementing NESRI and other strategic initiatives aimed at improving quality, expanding access, advancing research and innovation, and positioning Nigeria’s education system among the most competitive in Africa and globally.
Attached to this release is the 2026 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tqaywQLqNxJs1cksfUDcxbeBCpW3nA24/view?usp=sharing
Adedeji Tolulope
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