The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the development of a national tertiary education ranking system that will apply to all public and private institutions across Nigeria, including universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education. Minister of Education Tunji Alausa made the announcement following a meeting with the Nigerian University Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in Abuja.
Why Nigeria Needs Its Own Ranking Framework
Speaking on the initiative, Alausa said the country requires a ranking framework that reflects its own institutions, environment, and priorities, rather than relying solely on the lens of international bodies. The statement was issued via Alausa's X handle @DrTunjiAlausa on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The move comes after the Times Higher Education 2026 Rankings placed 24 Nigerian universities on its global list. The new national system aims to broaden participation and provide a more comprehensive assessment of the country's tertiary education sector.
NURAC to Become NTERAC with Expanded Mandate
A key change in the new arrangement is the expansion of the ranking scope. For the first time, polytechnics and Colleges of Education will be included alongside universities. To reflect this broader mandate, NURAC will be renamed the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NTERAC), headed by Prof. Peter Okebukola.
NTERAC will not only produce rankings but will also help institutions and their leadership better understand the data, methodology, and standards that credible rankings require. Participation will be mandatory for all public and private tertiary institutions, and the minister called on Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts to cooperate with the process.
NEDI Platform to Host Ranking Data
The national ranking system will be integrated into the Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI) platform, which aims to bring education data together in one place and give Nigerians a clearer view of how institutions are performing. The minister said that improving how Nigeria collects, reports, and uses institutional data will also help more Nigerian universities compete on global ranking systems such as Times Higher Education.
“Why shouldn't Nigeria have the Oxfords and Cambridges of Africa? We have the talent. We have the institutions. Now, we must continue to raise the standard,” the minister said. TETFund is providing financial and institutional support to strengthen the framework, with the long-term ambition of developing a ranking model that can serve as a credible reference point not just for Nigeria but across Africa.
Recent Global Rankings Show Nigerian Progress
Recall that the University of Ibadan ranked first in Nigeria and 1,291st globally in the July 2026 Webometrics ranking of over 32,000 institutions. The University of Lagos came second in Nigeria, while the University of Nigeria and Covenant University rounded out the top four.
Harvard University held the top global spot, with American universities dominating seven of the world's top 10 positions. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Nigeria has secured a stronger global university presence as 24 institutions enter the 2026 Times Higher Education rankings, with UNILAG, University of Ibadan, and other top schools leading Nigeria's latest academic breakthrough.
