Nigeria has emerged as the dominant force in Sub-Saharan Africa’s higher education landscape, claiming the highest number of institutions in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
According to the newly released Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa Insights 2026 report, a total of 24 Nigerian universities made it onto the global list, placing the country ahead of South Africa, which recorded 13 institutions. This achievement marks Nigeria as the most represented nation in the region’s 2026 rankings.
The report, published on THE’s official website on Thursday, revealed that Sub-Saharan Africa now has a record 55 universities from 14 countries listed globally — a remarkable increase from just 10 less than a decade ago. THE described the milestone as a “moment of celebration” for African higher education, noting that the continent’s institutions are not only growing in number but also improving in quality, visibility, and competitiveness.
While Nigeria leads in representation, South Africa still holds the performance advantage, with four universities ranked among the top 500 worldwide. The University of Cape Town retained its position as Africa’s highest-ranked institution, achieving a global placement of 164th, its best performance to date. The University of Johannesburg entered the world’s top 400 for the first time, while the University of Pretoria rejoined the 501–600 bracket after years of absence.
Nigeria also recorded significant progress, with the University of Ibadan (UI) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) appearing in the world’s top 1,000 universities for the first time — a development widely seen as a testament to the growing research and academic strength of Nigerian institutions.
Other African universities that featured prominently include Ghana’s University of Cape Coast and Uganda’s Makerere University, both ranked within the 801–1,000 range, reflecting growing regional competitiveness. Ghana now has four universities in the global rankings, while Botswana has two. Kenya and Tanzania each maintained two institutions on the list. Meanwhile, Senegal made its debut through the Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, marking a breakthrough for Francophone West Africa.
The data highlighted a steady upward trend for African higher education institutions. From 12 universities in 2017, the number increased to 18 in 2020, 25 in 2022, 43 in 2024, and now 55 in 2026 — the region’s strongest showing to date.
Commenting on the progress, Phil Baty, Times Higher Education’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, described Africa’s advancement as both quantitative and qualitative.
“We are not just seeing more universities represented,” Baty said. “We are seeing a clear rise in performance and visibility — an encouraging sign that Africa’s universities are ready to play a central role in global innovation and development.”
The top 10 universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, as listed in the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa Insights 2026, include:
University of Cape Town (=164 globally)
Stellenbosch University (301–350)
University of the Witwatersrand (301–350)
University of Johannesburg (351–400)
University of KwaZulu-Natal (501–600)
University of Pretoria (501–600)
University of the Western Cape (601–800)
Makerere University (801–1,000)
University of Cape Coast (801–1,000)
University of Ibadan / University of Lagos (801–1,000)
Beyond ranking statistics, the report pointed to global shifts affecting higher education systems. It noted that while Asia’s leading universities, such as Tsinghua University and the National University of Singapore, have experienced a slowdown in growth, and some Western institutions are contending with funding and political challenges, African universities are gaining ground by focusing on research excellence, innovation, and international partnerships.
Nigeria’s showing in the 2026 ranking builds upon strong domestic performance. According to an Edugist report, the University of Ibadan topped Nigeria’s national university rankings for 2026, rising from fourth position in the previous year to become the country’s best university. The University of Lagos followed closely, with both UI and UNILAG sharing the same global ranking band of 801–1,000.
Other Nigerian universities recognised by THE include Bayero University, Covenant University, and Landmark University, which all appeared within the 1,001–1,200 range.
The Times Higher Education report also analysed institutional strengths across five core indicators — teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry engagement. Among Nigerian universities, the University of Lagos recorded the highest score for research quality, Bayero University excelled in international outlook, while Covenant University led in industry collaboration and practical innovation.
Education experts believe this upward trajectory signals a new chapter for Nigerian higher education. With growing investment in research, stronger university-industry partnerships, and enhanced academic visibility, Nigeria’s universities are increasingly positioning themselves as key players in Africa’s knowledge economy.
