- Alausa Commends UI, UNILAG, BUK as Nigeria Gains Ground in Global Rankings
- Says Tinubu’s Education Reforms Yield Results
- Tops Sub-Saharan Africa in 2026 THE Rankings with 24 Universities
The Federal Ministry of Education has hailed the improved performance of Nigerian universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings and the THE Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, describing the feat as evidence of the gains from ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), Eko Hot Blog reports.
According to the ministry, the latest rankings placed the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos among Nigeria’s highest-ranked institutions, while Bayero University, Kano emerged as one of the country’s top-performing universities.
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The ministry noted that Nigeria increased its representation in the global rankings from 21 universities in 2024 and 2025 to 24 universities in 2026, making it the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
It added that 17 of the ranked institutions are federal universities, reflecting improvements in research, innovation, quality assurance, governance, digital transformation, infrastructure and human capital development.
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, said the rankings demonstrate the growing impact of government efforts to reposition higher education as a catalyst for national development.
“These rankings are more than numbers; they show that our universities are strengthening their global standing and that investments in education are yielding measurable results. They reflect the dedication of our institutions and stakeholders to advancing teaching, research and innovation,” he said.
Alausa stated that the rankings provide credible international validation of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions, improve governance and promote academic excellence across the sector.
He commended the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Bayero University Kano, Covenant University, Landmark University, Ahmadu Bello University and other ranked institutions for their contributions to teaching, research, innovation and national development.
The minister said Bayero University Kano’s performance highlights the growing spread of academic excellence across the country, noting that the progress recorded reflects the collective efforts of both public and private universities.
He further disclosed that beyond the 24 institutions officially ranked in 2026, an additional 27 Nigerian universities submitted data for assessment, demonstrating increasing commitment to accountability, institutional benchmarking and global standards.
Reaffirming the importance of education to national development, Alausa observed that Nigeria accounts for about 28 per cent of Africa’s fintech companies, underscoring the role of universities in producing the skilled workforce, research and innovation needed for economic growth and global competitiveness.
The ministry also appreciated President Tinubu for his support towards education sector transformation and commended university governing councils, managements, academic staff, students and stakeholders for their contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s higher education system.
It reiterated its commitment to implementing NESRI and other strategic initiatives aimed at improving quality, expanding access, advancing research and innovation and positioning Nigeria’s education sector among the most competitive in Africa and globally.
The 2026 Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings can be accessed via: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tqaywQLqNxJs1cksfUDcxbeBCpW3nA24/view?usp=sharing
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