In a historic achievement for African higher education, Covenant University has been ranked the top institution on the continent and an impressive 49th globally in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.
The results, published on Thursday, November 20, 2025, position the Ogun State-based university as the only African institution to break into the worldwide top 50. This landmark accomplishment highlights Nigeria's growing prowess in addressing complex global challenges through collaborative research.
Methodology and Global Context
The THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings evaluate how universities integrate knowledge from different fields to solve scientific problems. The assessment is based on 11 key indicators, including research funding, publication performance, institutional support systems, and global reputation.
The ranking specifically measures how institutions merge disciplines like engineering, medicine, social sciences, law, and education in their research output and academic structure.
This year's edition, the second of its kind, assessed 911 universities from 94 countries, reflecting the increasing importance of multidisciplinary approaches in global research.
Strong Nigerian Presence in Global Rankings
Nigeria demonstrated significant participation in the rankings, with data submitted from 30 universities. Of these, 18 Nigerian institutions secured places on the final global list.
Following Covenant University's lead, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) claimed the second position nationally with a global ranking of 161st.
Landmark University secured the third spot in Nigeria, placed in the 201-250 global band, while Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and the University of Ilorin shared the fourth position nationally, both placed in the 251-300 global range.
The University of Lagos and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta also featured prominently in the rankings, demonstrating the breadth of Nigeria's interdisciplinary science capabilities.
Complete List of Ranked Nigerian Universities
The full ranking of Nigerian universities in the 2026 THE Interdisciplinary Science Rankings is as follows:
Covenant University – 49th globally
University of Nigeria, Nsukka – 161st globally
Landmark University – 201-250 band
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 251-300 band
University of Ilorin – 251-300 band
University of Lagos – 301-350 band
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 401-500 band
Obafemi Awolowo University – 401-500 band
Federal University of Technology, Owerri – 501-600 band
Several other institutions were ranked in the 601-800 global band, including Ahmadu Bello University, Akwa Ibom State University, Bowen University, Delta State University, Ekiti State University, Lagos State University, University of Benin, and University of Calabar.
Federal University Oye Ekiti was placed in the 801+ band.
Recognition of Institutional Support and Collaboration
According to THE, the ranking methodology specifically rewards universities that demonstrate strong structural support for interdisciplinary teams, adequate research funding, and clear evidence of collaborative output across different academic departments.
Covenant University's exceptional performance indicates robust institutional frameworks that facilitate cross-disciplinary research, positioning Nigeria as an emerging leader in innovative scientific approaches that transcend traditional academic boundaries.
This achievement comes at a time when global research increasingly demands integrated solutions that combine expertise from multiple fields to address complex challenges in health, technology, environment, and society.
