By Obinna Uballa
The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has emerged as the highest-ranked university in Nigeria, alongside the University of Ibadan (UI), in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings released on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
According to the global ranking, UNILAG and UI both placed in the 801-1000 band out of more than 2,191 institutions assessed worldwide. They were followed by Covenant University and Bayero University, Kano, which ranked within the 1001-1200 category.
The rankings, regarded as one of the most respected global assessments of higher education institutions, evaluate universities using a comprehensive set of performance indicators that measure excellence in teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.
Outside Nigeria, UNILAG shares its 801–1000 position with several globally recognised institutions, including the University of Cape Coast (Ghana), Alexandria University (Egypt), Cairo University (Egypt), Ain Shams University (Egypt), and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico).
Reacting to the development, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, commended the university’s staff, students, alumni, and partners for their unwavering dedication and contribution to sustaining academic excellence and research leadership.
She described the recognition as a testament to UNILAG’s enduring commitment to world-class scholarship and innovation, assuring that the institution would continue to raise the bar in teaching, research, and community impact.
