T.M. Kayode

Welcome back to our exploration of Nigerian universities and their journey on the global stage. In my previous post, “Investigating the Progress of University Rankings in Nigeria”, we looked at some broader trends and the importance of global rankings for Nigerian higher education. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the latest performance data for Nigerian universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. This analysis covers individual parameters, recent trends, and what the numbers reveal about the state and progress of Nigerian institutions.

Overview of Nigerian Universities in THE Rankings

In recent years, a number of Nigerian universities have made notable appearances in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Here’s a summary of the rankings for key Nigerian universities, along with the indicators that THE uses to assess world-class universities.

Some of the Nigerian universities included in the rankings are:

• Covenant University
• University of Ibadan
• University of Lagos
• Landmark University
• Ahmadu Bello University
• Lagos State University
• Federal University of Technology, Akure
• Bayero University, Kano
• University of Nigeria, Nsukka

These universities fall primarily within the global ranking ranges of 401-500 and 801-1000, with Covenant University, University of Ibadan, and University of Lagos consistently being ranked in the Top 5.

Key Performance Indicators: Where Nigerian Universities Stand

THE assesses universities on several key indicators to determine their ranking. These indicators reflect different dimensions of a university’s performance, such as teaching quality, research output, industry income, and international outlook. Let’s examine the performance of Nigerian universities across some of these metrics.

1. Teaching

The Teaching score in THE’s 2025 methodology evaluates the learning environment, incorporating factors such as teaching reputation, student-staff ratio, doctorate-to-bachelor ratio, doctorate-to-staff ratio, and institutional income. Nigerian universities like the University of Ibadan and Covenant University consistently perform in the 20-30 range within this category, with the highest scores being 30.1 (University of Ibadan in 2023 and 2025) and 24.7 (Covenant University in 2024). Among Nigerian universities, the University of Ibadan consistently leads the pack in the teaching pillar. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka also performed respectably from 2020 to 2021 but has not appeared in the top five rankings since 2022.

When we consider the metrics used to evaluate teaching, it’s easy to see why some universities may have performed better than others. Older institutions like the University of Ibadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (when it ranked among the top five in Nigeria) benefit from their long histories and established reputations. Interestingly, student-staff ratios among Nigerian universities—both public and private—tend to be similar, and some private institutions even surpass public universities in terms of institutional budgets.

That said, I believe the biggest determinant of success in the teaching metric is teaching reputation. This component is assessed through surveys distributed to hundreds of thousands of academics worldwide. Naturally, older universities are more likely to have established recognition, giving them an edge. For younger institutions to compete, they need to invest strategically in reputation-building efforts—something I’ll explore further in a future post.

2. Research Environment

The Research Environment pillar is evaluated through three key metrics: research reputation, research income, and research productivity. Once again, reputation plays a significant role, as it is assessed through THE’s global survey sent to hundreds of thousands of academics. Interestingly, Covenant University—a relatively younger institution—has consistently outperformed many older universities in this category, with a peak score of 25.0 in 2025. Meanwhile, most Nigerian universities tend to score below 20 in this pillar.

Previously, I theorized that older universities might hold an advantage in reputation due to their established histories. However, Covenant University’s consistent success in this area challenges that assumption. Could it be that older universities are not as widely recognized for groundbreaking research on the same scale as this younger institution? Granted, Covenant is the only private university to feature prominently in the research pillar rankings, so this could be viewed as an isolated case. However, their consistent performance since 2020 suggests otherwise—it is a pattern worth noting, not a one-off occurrence.

Covenant University’s success shows that a younger institution can strategically position itself to remain at the forefront of academics’ minds, ensuring strong survey responses in reputation metrics. The takeaway here is clear: to excel in this pillar, universities must (1) conduct groundbreaking research and (2) actively promote that research to ensure visibility and recognition within academic circles. Covenant University’s example proves that this approach can yield tangible results, regardless of institutional age.

3. Citations and Research Quality

The Citations/Research Quality pillar has undergone significant changes in its evaluation process over the years. Between 2020 and 2023, it was assessed solely based on normalized citation values, contributing a substantial 30% to the overall ranking criteria. However, in 2023, the methodology was updated to include three additional metrics:

1. Research Strength: Measures the 75th percentile of field-weighted citations.
2. Research Excellence: Assesses the top 10% of papers with the highest field-weighted citation impact globally.
3. Research Influence: Evaluates the number of influential papers citing a particular work.

This shift in methodology had a noticeable impact on Nigerian universities’ scores in this pillar. Before the changes, institutions like the University of Lagos achieved impressive scores—97.7% in 2023, for example. After the update, however, that score dipped to 65.5% in 2024, and a similar trend was observed across other Nigerian universities.

This brings us to an interesting question: why do the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan outperform Covenant University in Research Quality/Citations, even though Covenant has dominated the Research Environment metric?

Well, the answer lies in the presence—or absence—of medical schools. Both the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan have well-established medical schools, whereas Covenant University does not. Historically, research from medical fields tends to attract significantly more citations than other disciplines. Loosely speaking, citation trends show that papers in the medical sciences gather the most citations, followed by engineering and the physical sciences, with the social sciences typically trailing behind.

What’s interesting with the updated citation methodology is how it appears to have leveled the playing field. Scores for most Nigerian universities are now converging at similar points, reflecting a broader shift in how research quality is evaluated.

I have a few thoughts on how universities—especially younger or non-medical institutions—can position themselves better in this pillar. Feel free to ask me in the comments if you’d like to discuss this further!

Now, moving on.

4. Industry Income

Industry Income measures how much income a university generates through partnerships with industry, highlighting its ability to transfer knowledge to the real world and contribute to innovation through patents and other outputs. In this category, Nigerian universities perform moderately across the board, with Covenant University consistently leading the pack.

Interestingly, 2024 was a historically poor year for all universities in this metric. I can’t help but wonder—what went wrong? However, Covenant University made an impressive comeback in 2025, achieving a score of 53.9%, an all-time nationwide high in this category. This recovery shows that strong strategic efforts can yield results, even after a dip.

But here’s the thing—there’s an undeniable, historic divide between academia and industry in Nigeria. For this metric to truly improve across the board, one or both parties must be willing to take the first step toward building meaningful partnerships.

For example, the industry has taken steps in this direction—particularly in Nigeria’s booming tech space. Through collaboration and funding from the private sector, the tech industry in Nigeria has thrived, producing several companies now valued at over a billion dollars. That’s the power of collaboration. Imagine if similar partnerships were cultivated between universities and industry—what untapped potential could we unlock?

Industry players shouldn’t sit on their high horses, assuming the solutions they need can’t be found in academia. Have you even asked? And if you have, how many academics did you consult before reaching that conclusion? On the flip side, academia must set aside its pride and recognize that world-class impact often requires collaboration with industry.

The way forward is clear: we need more mutually beneficial partnerships between academia and industry. These collaborations could unlock innovative solutions that benefit not just Nigeria, but the continent and the world at large. Perhaps at a later time, I could delve deeper into strategies for repositioning both universities and industries to foster this much-needed change.

5. International Outlook

The International Outlook metric evaluates factors such as the proportion of international students and staff, as well as international research collaborations.

Looking at the data, there’s noticeable improvement across Nigerian universities in this category, with Covenant University showing significant growth in its metrics starting from 2023. That said, most—if not all—Nigerian universities continue to struggle with attracting international students and staff. This is likely tied to national insecurity issues, which are largely beyond their control.

As it stands, the scores Nigerian universities achieve in this metric are primarily driven by international collaborations, likely in research. This is commendable and shows that even in challenging circumstances, Nigerian universities are finding ways to remain connected to the global academic community.

Attracting international students and staff, however, is a different ballgame altogether. Perhaps we can explore strategies for improving this in a future discussion.

6. Overall Ranking 

Since the inception of the World University Rankings in Nigeria, three universities—Covenant University, the University of Ibadan, and the University of Lagos—have consistently appeared in the rankings. However, while their overall placements tend to vary widely from year to year, the actual scores tell a different story. When we look closely, we see that the score ranges for these institutions have largely remained the same over time.

This reveals two important insights:

1. Strategic Improvement is Key: Universities need to take deliberate and strategic steps to improve their performance rather than leaving their rankings to chance. Without intentional efforts, stagnation in scores will inevitably lead to a loss of competitive edge.
2. Increased Competition: Over the years, the number of universities ranked by THE has grown. This means that even if a university performs the same as it did last year, it could still rank lower simply because it’s now competing against more institutions. Standing still is no longer an option—progress is essential to maintain or improve a university’s position.

Conclusion: Charting the Path Forward for Nigerian Universities

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings offer an insightful lens through which we can evaluate the progress and challenges facing Nigerian universities on the global stage. While there are notable highlights—such as Covenant University’s dominance in research environment metrics and the steady presence of the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos in the rankings—there are areas that require more strategic focus.

One critical takeaway from this analysis is that maintaining or improving rankings is not just about sustaining past efforts but about evolving in response to changing methodologies and increasing global competition. Nigerian universities must prioritize:

1. Building Global Reputation: Older institutions benefit from established recognition, but younger universities like Covenant show that strategic investments in reputation and visibility can yield significant results.
2. Research Excellence and Collaboration: Institutions need to actively engage in groundbreaking research and foster international partnerships to remain relevant.
3. Strengthening Industry Ties: Enhancing collaboration with industry can unlock innovation and improve performance in metrics like industry income.
4. Improving Teaching and Student Experience: Investments in teaching quality, infrastructure, and faculty development are crucial to sustaining growth.
5. Attracting Talent (Home and Abroad): While challenging, improving national security and creating an attractive academic environment are critical for drawing international students and staff.

Ultimately, the rankings should not be seen as an end in themselves but as a guidepost for continuous improvement. Nigerian universities have demonstrated resilience and potential despite numerous challenges. By adopting a forward-thinking, data-driven approach to these global rankings, they can not only improve their standing but also drive meaningful change within Nigeria’s higher education landscape.