By Peter Omopo
Nigeria has achieved its strongest performance yet in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, with 24 universities earning places on the prestigious global list, according to the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa.
The minister announced the milestone in a statement shared via his official X account, describing the achievement as a major indicator of the positive impact of ongoing reforms in the country’s higher education sector.
According to Alausa, the number of Nigerian universities featured in the global rankings increased from 21 in previous editions to 24 this year, making Nigeria the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He noted that 17 of the ranked institutions are federal universities, describing the development as evidence that sustained efforts to strengthen public tertiary education are beginning to yield measurable results.
Among the institutions recognised in the 2026 rankings are the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Bayero University Kano, alongside several other universities across the country.
Celebrating the achievement, the minister said the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope education reforms are delivering tangible outcomes.
“I’m pleased to see Nigerian universities record their strongest performance yet in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. This year, 24 Nigerian universities were ranked globally, up from 21 in previous years, making Nigeria the most represented country in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he stated.
Alausa added that the recognition reflects the collective commitment of universities to academic excellence and continuous improvement.
He explained that the latest rankings demonstrate the growing impact of government investments in research, innovation, digital transformation, infrastructure, governance and quality assurance within the nation’s higher education system.
According to the minister, the rankings are more than a measure of prestige, as they provide evidence that ongoing reforms are translating into international recognition for Nigerian universities.
He further disclosed that an additional 27 Nigerian universities participated in this year’s assessment, describing the increased participation as a sign of the sector’s commitment to transparency, global benchmarking and institutional development.
Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening reforms through the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which he said is aimed at positioning Nigerian universities as globally competitive centres of research, innovation and talent development.
He congratulated all the institutions that made the rankings, describing the accomplishment as a collective victory for Nigeria’s higher education sector and a reflection of the country’s growing academic excellence under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
