Twenty-four Nigerian universities have been listed in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject, marking a record for the country in global academic recognition. Nigeria now has the highest representation of any country in Sub-Saharan Africa in the rankings.
The 2026 rankings, published on 21 January, cover 11 subject areas, including arts and humanities, business and economics, computer science, education studies, engineering, law, life sciences, medical and health sciences, physical sciences, psychology and social sciences.
The increase in Nigerian universities in the global rankings reflects growth in research output, teaching quality and international engagement, according to the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC). The committee said the listing demonstrates the resilience and emerging academic strength of Nigerian higher education.
Among the institutions, the University of Ibadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka entered the global top 400 in law. In medical and health sciences, the University of Ibadan was ranked in the 301–400 band, with the University of Lagos placed in the 401–500 band. Landmark University was ranked within the 501–600 band for computer science, while Covenant University and the University of Ilorin appeared in the 601–800 category. Other universities, including Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University Kano, also appeared in the 601–800 bracket across various subjects.
Several other institutions, including the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and Landmark University, achieved placements in physical sciences and other disciplines. The overall representation highlights the breadth of Nigeria’s academic growth across multiple fields.
The Times Higher Education global subject rankings use 18 performance indicators covering teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. Unlike overall university rankings, the subject rankings allow institutions to be recognised for strength in specific areas.
Nigeria’s improved showing comes after years of investment in higher education, including expansion of research infrastructure, reforms in academic training, better integration into global research networks, and enhanced staff welfare. NURAC officials have cited these factors as key drivers of the country’s recent progress in international rankings.
Among the 24 universities included in the 2026 rankings are the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Babcock University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, University of Calabar, University of Port Harcourt, Federal University of Technology Minna, Federal University of Technology Akure, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, and Delta State University Abraka.
Analysts said Nigeria’s performance in the 2026 subject rankings reflects the country’s growing potential in global higher education and is likely to influence prospective students and international academic partnerships. The results are seen as a milestone for African universities on the global stage, even as institutions in other parts of the world continue to dominate overall rankings.
NURAC said the listings underline Nigeria’s commitment to improving quality, research capacity and international collaboration in higher education. The organisation said it would continue to support universities to strengthen performance in future global rankings.