Nigerian Universities Achieve Milestone in 2026 Global Subject Rankings
In a landmark achievement for the nation's higher education sector, twenty-four Nigerian universities have been featured in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject. This represents the highest representation from any Sub-Saharan African country in the prestigious global rankings, released on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
NURAC Commends Remarkable Academic Progress
The Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC) confirmed this development in a statement issued on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The committee praised the Nigerian university system for demonstrating significant improvements across multiple subject areas. According to NURAC, the rankings encompass eleven distinct subject categories:
- Arts and Humanities
- Business and Economics
- Computer Science
- Education Studies
- Engineering
- Law
- Life Sciences
- Medical and Health
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
Performance Indicators and Ranking Methodology
Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, Chairman of NURAC and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, explained that the subject rankings utilize eighteen performance indicators grouped into five key pillars:
- Teaching (The Learning Environment): Accounting for approximately 30% of the total score.
- Research Environment: Evaluating productivity, income, and reputation, contributing about 29%.
- Research Quality: Measuring citation impact and research excellence, representing around 30%.
- International Outlook: Assessing the ratio of international staff, students, and research collaborations, accounting for 7.5%.
- Industry (Knowledge Transfer): Highlighting industry income and patents, making up 4% of the score.
Notable Performances Across Subject Areas
Medical and Health Sciences: The University of Ibadan secured a position in the 301–400 global band, while the University of Lagos ranked within the 401–500 bracket. Several institutions including Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University Kano, University of Benin, University of Jos, and University of Nigeria Nsukka all placed within the 601–800 band.
Computer Science: Landmark University achieved a ranking in the 501–600 band, with Covenant University and University of Ilorin following closely in the 601–800 group.
Physical Sciences: The Federal University of Technology, Minna, Landmark University, and University of Ilorin all secured placements in the 601–800 band. Covenant University, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, and University of Calabar ranked in the 801–1000 band.
Social Sciences: Covenant University and University of Ibadan achieved impressive rankings in the 501–600 global band, while University of Lagos placed in the 601–800 band.
Psychology: The University of Nigeria Nsukka distinguished itself as the sole Nigerian representative in the 501–600 band for this subject area.
Context and Comparative Analysis
This achievement follows the recent 2026 Times Higher Education overall rankings where the University of Ibadan reclaimed its position as Nigeria's top university, ranking among the top 1,000 institutions worldwide alongside the University of Lagos. Professor Okebukola emphasized that these rankings mark a notable improvement for Nigerian universities on the global academic stage.
However, it is worth noting that in the separate 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings released in June 2025, none of Nigeria's 297 universities made it to the top 1,000 list, with South African and Egyptian institutions leading African representation in that particular ranking system.
The consistent presence of Nigerian universities across multiple subject areas in the THE rankings demonstrates growing academic excellence and research output within the country's higher education institutions, positioning Nigeria as a leading educational hub in Sub-Saharan Africa.
