UI, UNN, Covenant emerge top Nigerian universities in 2027 global ranking
The University of Ibadan (UI), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Covenant University have emerged as Nigeria’s top three universities in the 2027 AD Scientific Index, with federal institutions accounting for at least eight of the country’s top 10.
The ranking, released on October 1, placed Nigeria third in Africa and 48th globally, with 53,580 Nigerian scientists across 384 institutions indexed, according to a report by the Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee, Prof. Peter Okebukola.
UI retained the top national position, ranking 889th among nearly 19,800 universities globally and placing among the top 4.5 per cent worldwide. It was also the only Nigerian university in the global top 1,000, improving from 904th in the mid-August ranking while retaining 14th position in Africa.
UNN retained second position nationally, ranking 1,227th globally and 31st in Africa. Covenant University came third, followed by the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Bayero University.
The report said the number of Nigerian universities included in the ranking rose from 257 in the 2024 edition to more than 300 in 2026. Covenant University recorded the biggest movement, rising 457 places from 1,857th globally in the 2026 edition to 1,400th in the 2027 edition.
The ranking also highlighted Nigerian researchers, with Mayowa Owolabi of the University of Ibadan emerging as the country’s most cited scholar with 257,748 citations, ranking 676th among more than 2.6 million researchers globally. He was followed by Shafiu Mohammed of Ahmadu Bello University with 242,300 citations, while Olayinka Ilesanmi of the University of Ibadan ranked third nationally with 185,602 citations.
The report said 16 of the 22 Nigeria-based scholars in the national top 25 by citations were affiliated with federal institutions, with the University of Ibadan accounting for five. It also cited the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, which increased Nigeria’s representation from 24 universities in 2026 to 29 in 2027, with 19 being federal universities.
According to the report, Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ilorin moved into the 1001–1200 band, while Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Benin entered the 1401–1600 band. Okebukola, a former executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, said the rankings reflected growing research visibility in Nigeria but stressed the need for greater research impact, international collaboration and sustained investment in leading research groups.
