The latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings have unveiled some intriguing shifts for Nigeria’s academic institutions, with only 44 of the nation’s 264 universities making the cut for 2025.
These rankings, while prestigious, also reveal some challenges Nigerian universities are facing on the global stage.
Covenant University (CU), a private institution with a growing reputation, has managed to hold its position as Nigeria’s top university for the second year in a row. Founded by Bishop David Oyedepo, CU’s success at home contrasts with its global performance, where it has slipped from the 601–800 bracket in 2023 to a lower tier, now ranked between 801 and 1000 in 2025.
Meanwhile, the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria’s oldest university, has seen a notable dip in both national and global standings. After being the second-highest ranked institution in the country in 2024, UI has now dropped to fourth place in Nigeria and lost ground internationally, slipping from the 401-500 bracket in 2023 to the same 801–1000 range as Covenant University by 2024.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) makes its debut on the rankings this year, earning second place in Nigeria. This fresh recognition for ABU is part of a broader trend: several other Nigerian universities have also entered the rankings for the first time, showing promise for the future.
“In the 2024 rankings, two Nigerian universities—Covenant University in Ogun State and the University of Ibadan—secured spots in the top 1,000 globally. This was an improvement from 2023, when three universities—University of Ibadan (UI), University of Lagos (UNILAG), and Covenant University—were ranked within the top 1,000. However, in the latest 2025 rankings, only Covenant University made the list. Notably, the private institution has maintained a presence in the top 1,000 rankings consistently since 2019”- Edugist learnt
The Times Higher Education (THE) rankings are based on 18 “carefully calibrated performance indicators,” which are categorized into five key areas: Teaching (learning environment), Research environment (volume, income, reputation), Research quality (citation impact, research strength, excellence, and influence), International outlook (staff, students, and research), and Industry engagement (income and patents).
In the weighting of these factors, Research quality accounts for 30%, the Research environment contributes 29%, and Teaching makes up 29.5%. International outlook holds a 7.5% share, while a university’s ability to drive industry innovation, through inventions and consultancy, contributes 4% to the overall score.
It’s worth noting that only institutions participating in THE’s data collection cycle get a chance to be ranked. This means many universities that might have made the cut were absent due to non-participation in the process.
As Nigeria’s higher education sector continues to evolve, these rankings may inspire deeper conversations about the factors influencing teaching quality, international collaboration, and the role of universities in a globally competitive environment.
BEST 25 UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA BASED ON THE TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION (THE) RANKING OF WORLD UNIVERSITIES 2025
1. Covenant University
2. Ahmadu Bello University
3. Landmark University
4. University of Ibadan
5. University of Lagos
6. Bayero University Kano
7. Federal University of Technology Akure
8. Federal University of Technology Minna
9. University of Benin
10. University of Ilorin
11. University of Nigeria Nsukka
12. Ekiti State University
13. Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta
14. Federal University of Technology Owerri
15. Federal University Oye Ekiti
16. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
17. Lagos State University
18. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
19. Obafemi Awolowo University
20. University of Port Harcourt
21. Usman Danfodio University Sokoto
22. Abia State University
23. Akwa Ibom State University
24. Alex Ekwueme Federal University
25. Ambrose Alli University
Source: The Times Higher Education (THE) Website (2025 Ranking)
