FG Hails Improved Performance of Nigerian Varsities in 2026 Global Rankings

The Federal Ministry of Education has attributed the improved performance of Nigerian universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings to ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

The ministry said Nigeria increased its representation in the global rankings from 21 universities in 2024 and 2025 to 24 institutions in 2026, making it the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, on Friday, June 26, the latest rankings placed the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos among Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities, while Bayero University Kano emerged as one of the country’s top-performing institutions.

The statement noted that 17 of the ranked institutions are federal universities, reflecting improvements in research, innovation, quality assurance, governance, digital transformation, infrastructure and human capital development.

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It added that the rankings also signalled a resurgence of public universities among Nigeria’s leading higher education institutions.

Reacting to the development, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the rankings demonstrate the growing impact of government efforts to reposition higher education as a 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,” the minister said.

Alausa said the rankings provide credible international validation of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions, improve governance and promote academic excellence across the education sector.

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 also described Bayero University Kano’s performance as evidence of the growing spread of academic excellence across the country.

According to him, the progress recorded reflects the collective efforts of both public and private universities and underscores growing confidence in Nigeria’s higher education system.

Alausa further disclosed that beyond the 24 institutions officially ranked in 2026, an additional 27 Nigerian universities submitted data for assessment, demonstrating an increasing commitment to accountability, institutional benchmarking and global standards.

Reaffirming the importance of education to national development, the minister noted that Nigeria accounts for about 28 per cent of Africa’s fintech companies, stressing that universities remain critical to producing the skilled workforce, research and innovation needed to drive economic growth and global competitiveness.

“The rankings provide credible international validation of our ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions, improve governance, and promote academic excellence across the sector,” he added.

The ministry expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his support for education sector reforms and commended the leadership, governing councils, management, academic staff, students and other stakeholders for their contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s universities.