FG Mandates National Ranking for Tertiary Institutions

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a compulsory national ranking exercise for all tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This policy was announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with the newly renamed Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee.

The initiative aims to improve quality, accountability, institutional performance, and global competitiveness in Nigeria's tertiary education sector. The ranking system will provide institutions with benchmarks for assessing performance and promoting healthy competition.

Funding for the exercise will come from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, with the first ranking for universities scheduled to begin in September 2026/2027. The government will develop guidelines to ensure participation is mandatory, and both public and private institutions will be included.

The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, supported the initiative, emphasizing the importance of competition in enhancing educational standards.