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 (THE) World University Rankings.
The three were placed between 801 and 1000 globally in the best university rankings published on THE’s website on Wednesday.
Nigeria also recorded 29 ranked universities in the 2027 edition, up from 24 in the 2026 rankings.
Five universities, including Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, were newly ranked.
Covenant University returned to the top position among Nigerian universities after it was dethroned to third last year by UI and UNILAG, which shared the top position in the 2026 edition.
The three South-West-based institutions are now jointly placed in the 801–1000 band globally, making them Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities in the 2027 edition.
Following them are two Northwest Nigerian universities: Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University, ranking fourth and fifth, respectively.
The rankings assess research-intensive universities across five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
According to THE, the 2027 rankings cover 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories. The ranking uses 17 performance indicators across the five pillars.
Globally, the University of Oxford retained the number one position for an 11th consecutive year, while in sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution, rising to joint 147th position from joint 164th in the previous edition.
“The number of ranked institutions in sub-Saharan increased from 55 last year to 69 this year. Nigeria has the most universities ranked, with 29 in total,” THE said.
THE rankings also show the strength of individual institutions. UNILAG is ranked highest in quality research, scoring 67.8.
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.
Full list of ranked Nigerian universities
Covenant University — 801–1000
University of Ibadan — 801–1000
University of Lagos — 801–1000
Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200
Bayero University — 1001–1200
Landmark University — 1001–1200
University of Ilorin — 1001–1200
Babcock University — 1201–1400
Osun State University — 1201–1400
University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400
Federal University of Technology, Minna — 1401–1600
Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 1401–1600
Obafemi Awolowo University — 1401–1600
University of Benin — 1401–1600
University of Jos — 1401–1600
University of Maiduguri — 1401–1600
Federal University of Technology, Akure — 1601–1800
Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 1801–2000
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 1801–2000
Lagos State University — 1801–2000
Olabisi Onabanjo University — 1801–2000
University of Calabar — 1801–2000
Delta State University, Abraka — 2001+
Ekiti State University — 2001+
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 2001+
Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 2001+
Kwara State University — 2001+
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 2001+
University of Port Harcourt — 2001+
The ranking also listed 33 Nigerian institutions as “reporter” institutions. According to THE, reporter institutions submitted data but did not meet the eligibility criteria required to receive a rank.
Reporter institutions
Abia State University
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
Adamawa State University
Ajayi Crowther University
Akwa Ibom State University
Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye
Al-Hikmah University
Ambrose Alli University
Augustine University
Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti
Bayelsa Medical University
Baze University
Bells University of Technology
Bingham University
Bowen University
Evangel University, Akaeze
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
Federal University Otuoke
Fountain University
Godfrey Okoye University
Igbinedion University Okada
Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University
Lagos State University of Education
Lagos State University of Science and Technology
Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria
Michael and Cecilia Ibru University
Miva Open University
Nasarawa State University, Keffi
Nile University of Nigeria
Plateau State University, Bokkos
Rivers State University
University of Cross River State
University of Delta
THE is a globally recognised independent organisation that provides data and analysis for the higher education sector, including the widely adopted World University Rankings.
While data submission is open to all universities, institutions are only ranked in the World University Rankings 2027 if they teach undergraduates, produce research across a range of subjects and have published at least 1,000 research publications between 2021 and 2025, with a minimum of 100 a year.
The PUNCH