By: Ayomide Akinsola
The University of Ibadan has once again proven its reputation as Nigeria’s academic pacesetter, emerging as the country’s best university in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
Released on Thursday, the latest ranking placed UI between 801–1000 globally, putting it ahead of other Nigerian universities, a position it last held in 2023 before slipping to fourth place in 2025.This year’s ranking assessed 2,191 universities across 115 countries, measuring their performance in five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry links, and international outlook.
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) followed closely behind in second place, while Bayero University, Kano (BUK) took third, and Covenant University, the previous leader, dropped to fourth. Landmark University completed the top five.
UI’s resurgence reflects not only its long-standing academic strength but also renewed focus on research quality and institutional development. The report also noted that UNILAG recorded the highest research quality score (66.7) among Nigerian universities, while BUK led in international outlook. Covenant University topped in industry connection, highlighting its strong link with the private sector.
Out of the 51 Nigerian universities that appeared on the global list, only UI and UNILAG made it to the 801–1000 band, with BUK, CU, and Landmark University ranking between 1001–1200. Others like Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ilorin, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka were listed between 1201–1500.
The Times Higher Education ranking remains one of the most credible indicators of global academic performance. Over 18.7 million research publications and 174.9 million citations were analysed, alongside feedback from more than 108,000 scholars worldwide.
For many in Nigeria’s academic community, UI’s return to the top signals a renewed sense of pride. Founded in 1948, the institution continues to stand as a symbol of intellectual excellence and a reminder of Nigeria’s capacity for world-class scholarship, even in challenging times.
