COVENANT University, the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have jointly emerged as the top-ranked Nigerian universities in the 2027 global university rankings released by Times Higher Education (THE).
News Point Nigeria reports that in the ranking published on THE’s website on Wednesday, the three institutions were placed in the 801st–1000th band globally, putting them at the top of Nigeria’s 2027 rankings.
Nigeria also recorded five additional institutions in the latest rankings, taking the country’s tally from 24 universities in the 2026 edition to 29 in the 2027 ranking. THE confirmed that Nigeria had 29 universities ranked in the latest edition.
The five newly ranked universities are Osun State University, the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Kwara State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
UI had overtaken Covenant University as the top Nigerian institution in the 2026 ranking released in October last year, with the David Oyedepo-owned university taking third place behind UNILAG.
However, Covenant regained the top spot in the latest ranking, while Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University completed the top five in fourth and fifth positions respectively.
The universities are ranked based on teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
The three top Nigerian universities had overall scores ranging from 36.4 to 40.1, but their performances differed across the five broad categories.
In teaching, Covenant University scored 21.4 points, UI had 31.2, while UNILAG scored 21.2.
In research environment and research quality, Covenant scored 32.5 and 49.8 respectively, while UI had 19.9 and 64.9. UNILAG scored 20.8 and 67.8 in the two categories.
Covenant, however, edged the two universities in industry and international outlook, scoring 61.0 and 48.6 respectively. UI scored 22.2 and 44.9, while UNILAG had 31.3 and 45.6.
THE said the 2027 rankings cover 2,297 institutions across 118 countries and territories, using 17 performance indicators across the five pillars. THE’s official results also confirm that the 2027 edition includes 2,297 universities from 118 countries and territories, up from 2,191 institutions in the previous edition.
Globally, the University of Oxford retained the number one position for an 11th consecutive year.
Meanwhile, the University of Cape Town was the highest-ranked institution in sub-Saharan Africa, rising to joint 147th from joint 164th in the previous edition. THE also reported that the number of ranked institutions across sub-Saharan Africa increased from 55 to 69, with Nigeria having the highest number at 29.
Full List Of 29 Nigerian Universities In The 2027 THE Global Ranking:
Covenant University — 801–1000
University of Ibadan — 801–1000
University of Lagos — 801–1000
Ahmadu Bello University — 1001–1200
Bayero University — 1001–1200
Landmark University — 1001–1200
University of Ilorin — 1001–1200
Babcock University — 1201–1400
Osun State University — 1201–1400
University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 1201–1400
Federal University of Technology, Minna — 1401–1600
Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 1401–1600
Obafemi Awolowo University — 1401–1600
University of Benin — 1401–1600
University of Jos — 1401–1600
University of Maiduguri — 1401–1600
Federal University of Technology, Akure — 1601–1800
Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 1801–2000
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 1801–2000
Lagos State University — 1801–2000
Olabisi Onabanjo University — 1801–2000
University of Calabar — 1801–2000
Delta State University, Abraka — 2001+
Ekiti State University — 2001+
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 2001+
Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 2001+
Kwara State University — 2001+
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 2001+
University of Port Harcourt — 2001+