Nigeria Expands Tertiary Education Ranking Framework

On Tuesday, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, announced the expansion of Nigeria's national tertiary education ranking framework to encompass universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, making participation compulsory for all institutions. This announcement was made during a meeting with the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC) and was communicated by Mr. Ikharo Attah, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications.

The initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu's education reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, implemented through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI). The ranking aims to improve quality, accountability, and institutional performance while fostering global competitiveness.

The first ranking exercise for universities is scheduled to begin in September 2026, with timelines for polytechnics and colleges to be determined by NURAC. Funding for the exercise will be provided by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which will also develop guidelines for institutional participation.

Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, the Minister of State for Education, supported the initiative, emphasizing its role in enhancing accountability and quality across the education system.