Nigerian universities have recorded a major improvement in global research rankings, with the country now placed third in Africa and 48th globally among 221 countries, according to the latest AD Scientific Index.

The latest ranking, refreshed on October 1, 2026, indexed 53,580 Nigerian scientists across 384 institutions, giving Nigeria the largest number of indexed researchers among Africa’s three leading research countries.

A report by the Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, said the latest figures pointed to growing research visibility across Nigeria’s university system.

The University of Ibadan retained its position as Nigeria’s best-ranked university, placing 889th among nearly 19,800 universities globally and within the top 4.5 per cent worldwide.

It remains the only Nigerian university in the global top 1,000.

The institution also improved from 904th position in the mid-August update to 889th in October, while retaining 14th position in Africa across the 2025, 2026 and 2027 editions.

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, retained second position nationally, ranking 1,227th globally and 31st in Africa.

Covenant University came third nationally, followed by the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Bayero University.

The report noted that federal universities occupied at least eight of the top 10 positions nationally, describing them as the “core” of Nigeria’s research strength.

Nigeria’s research footprint also widened significantly, with the number of universities ranked rising from 257 in the 2024 edition to more than 300 in 2026.

Covenant University recorded the biggest movement among Nigerian institutions, climbing 457 places from 1,857th globally in the 2026 edition to 1,400th in the 2027 edition, while retaining third position nationally.

The performance of individual Nigerian researchers also featured prominently in the latest rankings.

Prof. Mayowa Owolabi of the University of Ibadan emerged as Nigeria’s most cited scholar, with 257,748 citations, placing him 676th among more than 2.6 million indexed researchers worldwide.

He was followed by Shafiu Mohammed of Ahmadu Bello University, with 242,300 citations and a global position of 776th, while Olayinka Ilesanmi of the University of Ibadan ranked third nationally with 185,602 citations.

The report said 16 of the 22 Nigeria-based scholars in the national top 25 by citations were affiliated with federal institutions, with the University of Ibadan alone accounting for five.

The gains were also reflected in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, cited by Okebukola as further evidence of Nigeria’s improving research visibility.

Nigeria’s representation in the THE rankings rose from 24 universities in the 2026 edition to 29 in 2027, with federal universities accounting for 19 of the 29 institutions.

Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ilorin moved into the 1001–1200 global band, while Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Benin advanced into the 1401–1600 band.

Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, said the improvements demonstrated growing research visibility across the country’s university system.

He, however, stressed the need to move beyond visibility by strengthening research impact, expanding international collaboration and sustaining investment in leading research groups.

The latest performance, he said, offered evidence of progress while underscoring the need for universities and policymakers to consolidate the gains and build a stronger research ecosystem.