3 Nigerian Universities Who Made the New World Ranking

In the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings for 2026, only three Nigerian universities managed to secure a spot and none made it to the top 1000. 

This marks yet another year where Nigerian institutions struggle to compete with their global and even African counterparts.

According to the rankings released on June 19, the University of Ibadan (UI), the University of Lagos (UNILAG), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria were the only Nigerian universities that appeared on the list. 

While UI and UNILAG were placed in the 1001–1200 range, ABU joined the list for the first time, ranking between 1201–1400.

QS, short for Quacquarelli Symonds, uses eight indicators to assess universities worldwide. These include academic reputation, research performance, faculty-student ratio, international collaboration, and graduate employability. 

Sadly, Nigerian universities continue to underperform in many of these areas especially research and international reach.

With over 290 universities across the country, it’s worrying that only three made it to the global stage and not even within the top tier. In contrast, countries like Egypt and South Africa are leading the continent. Egypt had 20 universities listed, while South Africa had 11, including the University of Cape Town, which ranked 150th globally.

Other African countries also made appearances: Tunisia had four universities on the list, Ghana and Morocco had two each, and Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya, and Uganda all had at least one.

Globally, the list is still dominated by powerhouses from the United States and the United Kingdom. MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) took the top spot, followed by Imperial College London, Stanford University, and the University of Oxford.

So, what’s holding Nigerian universities back? Experts point to a lack of funding for research, poor infrastructure, weak global partnerships, and low international visibility. Many Nigerian schools are also yet to prioritise employability, one of the key areas used in ranking.

If Nigeria hopes to climb higher in future rankings, universities must go beyond tradition and reputation. 

There is a need for serious investment in academic research, better student outcomes, and global engagement.