24 Nigerian Universities Make Global Rankings Under Renewed Hope Reforms

Nigeria has increased its presence in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, with 24 universities earning places in the global assessment, a development the Federal Government has attributed to ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Federal Ministry of Education said the latest rankings reflect the impact of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), with public universities leading the country’s improved performance in teaching, research, innovation and institutional governance.

In a statement issued on Friday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Folasade Boriowo, the government noted that Nigeria’s representation rose from 21 universities in both the 2024 and 2025 editions to 24 in 2026, making the country the most represented in Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the ministry, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos ranked among Nigeria’s highest-performing institutions, while Bayero University Kano emerged as one of the country’s leading universities in the latest assessment.

It added that 17 of the 24 ranked institutions are federal universities, a performance it linked to improvements in research output, innovation, quality assurance, digital transformation, infrastructure, governance and human capital development.

The ministry also described the rankings as signalling a strong resurgence of public universities, with federal institutions accounting for the majority of Nigeria’s top-performing universities.

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the achievement demonstrates the growing impact of government efforts to reposition higher education as a key 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,” he said.

Alausa said the outcome provides credible international validation of the government’s efforts to strengthen institutions, improve governance and promote academic excellence across the country’s higher education system.

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.

The minister noted that Bayero University Kano’s performance further demonstrates that academic excellence is spreading across different regions of the country.

He added that the progress recorded reflects the collective commitment of both public and private universities and reinforces confidence in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

According to him, beyond the 24 institutions that secured positions in the 2026 rankings, another 27 Nigerian universities submitted data for assessment, indicating growing interest in institutional benchmarking, accountability and adherence to international standards.

Alausa also linked the country’s educational progress to broader economic development, noting that Nigeria accounts for about 28 per cent of Africa’s fintech companies, a feat he said underscores the importance of universities in producing the skilled workforce, research and innovation required to sustain growth and global competitiveness.

The ministry expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his continued support for education sector reforms and commended university governing councils, managements, academic staff, students and other stakeholders whose contributions continue to strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

It reaffirmed its commitment 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.