Nigeria's 29 Universities Shine in 2027 Global Rankings

In the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, the number of Nigerian universities included rose from 24 to 29, with five institutions making their debut. The Federal Ministry of Education, represented by Director of Press Folasade Boriowo, stated that this increase reflects ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

The reforms emphasize research excellence, innovation, and global competitiveness. Federal universities performed strongly, with five of the seven Nigerian universities in the global top 1,200 being federal institutions.

The University of Ibadan and University of Lagos maintained their positions in the 801–1000 band, while Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ilorin moved into the 1001–1200 band. The ministry noted that all six Nigerian universities in the 1401–1600 band were federal institutions.

The increase in participation aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education, implemented through the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which focuses on institutional performance and research capacity.