Abuja:Nigerian universities, particularly federal institutions, have made notable progress in the latest AD Scientific Index, according to Prof. Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Nigeria is ranked third in Africa and 48th globally among 221 countries, based on the October 1 rankings that indexed 53,580 Nigerian scientists across 384 institutions. Among Africa’s top research nations, Nigeria boasts the highest number of indexed researchers.
The University of Ibadan remains Nigeria’s leading university, securing the 889th position among nearly 19,800 universities worldwide, placing it in the top 4.5 percent globally. It is the only Nigerian university in the global top 1,000 and improved from 904th in mid-August to 889th in October, maintaining its 14th position in Africa across several editions.
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka ranks second nationally and 1,227th globally, followed by Covenant University as third nationally. Other leading universities include the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and Bayero University. Federal universities dominate the top positions nationally, highlighting their central role in Nigeria’s research capabilities.
The number of Nigerian universities ranked increased from 257 in 2024 to over 300 in 2026. Covenant University made a significant leap, moving 457 places from 1,857th globally in 2026 to 1,400th in 2027, while holding third place nationally.
In terms of individual researchers, Mayowa Owolabi of the University of Ibadan is Nigeria’s most cited scholar with 257,748 citations, ranking 676th globally. He is followed by Shafiu Mohammed of Ahmadu Bello University with 242,300 citations and a global ranking of 776th, and Olayinka Ilesanmi of the University of Ibadan with 185,602 citations. Sixteen of the top 22 Nigerian scholars by citations are affiliated with federal universities, with the University of Ibadan contributing five.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 reflects an increase in Nigerian representation from 24 universities in 2026 to 29 in 2027, with 19 of these being federal institutions. Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ilorin have moved into the 1,001-1,200 band, while Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Benin have entered the 1,401-1,600 band.
Prof. Okebukola emphasized that these advancements demonstrate growing research visibility within Nigeria’s university system but also highlighted the need for improved research impact, international collaboration, and continued investment in leading research groups.