Covenant, Ibadan and Lagos share Nigeria’s top spot in THE 2027 ranking
Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have jointly emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked institutions in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. They were placed in the 801–1000 global band, while Nigeria’s total number of ranked universities increased to 29 from 24.
Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have jointly emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The three institutions were placed in the 801–1000 band globally in the ranking published on THE’s website on Wednesday. Covenant therefore returned to the top position among Nigerian universities after UI and UNILAG shared that position in the previous edition.
Nigeria recorded 29 ranked universities in the 2027 edition, compared with 24 in 2026. Five institutions were newly ranked: Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University followed the three leading institutions as Nigeria’s fourth- and fifth-ranked universities.
Landmark University and the University of Ilorin were also placed in the 1001–1200 global band. THE said its ranking covers 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories. It assesses universities through 17 indicators grouped into teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
Among Nigerian universities, UNILAG recorded the highest quality-research score, at 67.8. BUK was identified as the country’s strongest institution for international outlook, while Covenant had the highest industry score. Globally, the University of Oxford retained first place for an 11th consecutive year.
THE said the number of ranked institutions in sub-Saharan Africa rose from 55 to 69, with the University of Cape Town the region’s highest-ranked institution at joint 147th.
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