Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos have emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked universities in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, published on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

The three institutions were placed in the 801–1000 band globally, making them the leading Nigerian universities in the latest edition of the international ranking.

Also read: October 1: FG declares public holiday for Independence Day

The Nigeria universities 2027 ranking also saw several institutions appear in the Times Higher Education table for the first time, including Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri, Kwara State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University and the University of Ilorin followed in the 1001–1200 global band.

Babcock University, Osun State University and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka were placed within the 1201–1400 range.

The next group included the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Benin, the University of Jos and the University of Maiduguri, all ranked in the 1401–1600 band.

The Federal University of Technology, Akure was placed in the 1601–1800 category.

The Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University and the University of Calabar were ranked in the 1801–2000 band.

Six Nigerian institutions were placed in the 2001+ category: Delta State University, Abraka; Ekiti State University; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta; Federal University Oye-Ekiti; Kwara State University; and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

The latest ranking provides a broad picture of the Nigerian institutions included in the global assessment, with universities spread across several ranking bands.

The appearance of newly ranked Nigerian universities also expands the country’s representation in the international table and provides additional visibility for institutions outside the country’s most established university centres.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings assess universities using a range of indicators covering areas including teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The ranking bands also mean that institutions placed within the same range are not assigned individual positions against one another.

For Nigerian universities, the 2027 edition highlights the continued presence of the country’s leading institutions in global assessments while showing the widening representation of universities across different states and regions.

The full Nigerian list provides prospective students, academics and other stakeholders with an international reference point when considering the global standing of the country’s universities.

Full list of ranked Nigerian universities

Covenant University — 801–1000
University of Ibadan — 801–1000
University of Lagos — 801–1000
Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200
Bayero University — 1001–1200
Landmark University — 1001–1200
University of Ilorin — 1001–1200
Babcock University — 1201–1400
Osun State University — 1201–1400
University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400
Federal University of Technology, Minna — 1401–1600
Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 1401–1600
Obafemi Awolowo University — 1401–1600
University of Benin — 1401–1600
University of Jos — 1401–1600
University of Maiduguri — 1401–1600
Federal University of Technology, Akure — 1601–1800
Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 1801–2000
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 1801–2000
Lagos State University — 1801–2000
Olabisi Onabanjo University — 1801–2000
University of Calabar — 1801–2000
Delta State University, Abraka — 2001+
Ekiti State University — 2001+
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 2001+
Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 2001+
Kwara State University — 2001+
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 2001+
University of Port Harcourt — 2001+

Also read: October 1: FG declares public holiday for Independence Day

The 2027 results show that Nigerian universities continue to feature across a wide range of global ranking bands, with Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos occupying the highest band among the institutions listed from Nigeria.