Covenant University, the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have emerged as the highest-ranked Nigerian universities in the 2027 global university rankings released by Times Higher Education (THE).
Gatekeepers News reports that the three universities were placed in the 801–1,000 bracket globally in the ranking published on THE’s website on Wednesday.
Nigeria recorded a total of 29 universities in the latest edition, up from 24 institutions in the 2026 ranking.
Five universities made their debut in the latest ranking: Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
UI had ranked ahead of Covenant University in the 2026 edition released in October last year, while Covenant was placed third behind UNILAG.
Covenant University has now returned to the top position among Nigerian institutions, with UI and UNILAG jointly occupying second place. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and Bayero University ranked fourth and fifth respectively.
THE assesses universities using five broad areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
The three leading Nigerian universities recorded overall scores ranging from 36.4 to 40.1, although their performances varied across the five categories.
Covenant University scored 21.4 in teaching, compared with 31.2 for UI and 21.2 for UNILAG.
In research environment and research quality, Covenant scored 32.5 and 49.8, respectively. UI recorded 19.9 and 64.9, while UNILAG scored 20.8 and 67.8.
Covenant performed ahead of the two universities in industry and international outlook, with scores of 61.0 and 48.6, respectively.
UI scored 22.2 in industry and 44.9 in international outlook, while UNILAG recorded 31.3 and 45.6 in the two categories.
According to THE, the 2027 ranking covers 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories and uses 17 performance indicators grouped under the five pillars.
Globally, the University of Oxford retained the number one position for the 11th consecutive year.
The University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked university in sub-Saharan Africa, rising to joint 147th position from joint 164th in the previous edition.
Full list of 29 Nigerian universities in THE 2027 ranking
- 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+
