Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have emerged as the highest-ranked Nigerian institutions in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The three universities were placed within the 801–1000 bracket globally in the rankings published by Times Higher Education on Wednesday.
Nigeria’s representation also increased in the latest edition, with 29 universities making the ranking, compared with 24 institutions in the 2026 edition.
Five universities made their debut in the latest ranking. They are Osun State University, University of Maiduguri, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
Covenant University returned to the top position among Nigerian universities after the University of Ibadan overtook it in the 2026 edition released in October last year. UNILAG had also ranked ahead of Covenant in the previous edition.
Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University followed the three institutions in the latest Nigerian ranking, occupying the 1001–1200 global band.
The THE ranking assesses universities using five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
Covenant, UI and UNILAG recorded overall scores ranging from 36.4 to 40.1, although their performances varied considerably across the individual indicators.
For teaching, Covenant University scored 21.4 points, compared with 31.2 for the University of Ibadan and 21.2 for the University of Lagos.
In research environment and research quality, Covenant recorded 32.5 and 49.8 points respectively. UI scored 19.9 in research environment and 64.9 in research quality, while UNILAG recorded 20.8 and 67.8 respectively.
Covenant performed better than the two universities in industry and international outlook, scoring 61.0 and 48.6 points. UI recorded 22.2 and 44.9, while UNILAG scored 31.3 and 45.6 respectively.
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According to THE, the 2027 edition covers 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories. The institutions were assessed through 17 performance indicators grouped under the five main pillars.
The University of Oxford retained the global number one position for the 11th consecutive year.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution, moving up to joint 147th place from joint 164th in the previous edition.
Full list of the 29 Nigerian universities ranked by THE:
- 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+