In the Times Higher Education (THE) world universities ranking, there are fewer Nigerian universities among the top 1,000 for the third year in a row.
In 2024, two Nigerian universities made it to the top 1,000. They included Covenant University in Ogun State and the University of Ibadan. Three universities were among the list of the top 1,000 in 2023. Among these were Covenant University, University of Lagos (UNILAG), and University of Ibadan (UI).
However, only one university in Nigeria, Covenant University, reached the list in the most recent rating for 2025.
Ahmadu Bello University, which is placed between 1001 and 1200, is the second-best university in Nigeria after Covenant. Landmark University, University of Ibadan, and University of Lagos are other Nigerian universities that are placed between 1001 and 1200.
The universities included in the 1201–1500 range are Bayero University, Federal University of Technology Akure, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Benin, and University of Ilorin.
Oxford University is still ranked first in the world, a position it has occupied for almost ten years. THE said in a statement announcing the rankings that “the institution’s performance has been bolstered by significant improvements in its income from industry, the number of patents that cite its research, as well as its teaching scores.”
Harvard University of the US came in third place, while Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the US advanced one spot to take second place. In the prior edition, MIT was ranked third.
However, Stanford University dropped to sixth place in the most recent rating from second place in the previous one—its lowest standing since 2010.
THE stated on its website that the three primary goals of university activity—research, teaching, and impact—are the foundation for the rankings.
The Research environment receives two-thirds of the points, with the Quality of the Research taking up thirty percent. Teaching constitutes 29.5% of the total, while international outlook accounts for 7.5%. Additionally, 4% of the points are awarded for a university’s capacity to assist business through inventions, innovations, and consulting.
Source: dailytrust.com