* University of Ibadan, UNILAG, Bayero top list

The Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Kano, and the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, have been listed among the 24 Nigerian universities featured in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, reflecting Nigeria’s growing presence in global higher education assessments.

The rankings include 17 public universities and seven private institutions, with the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos and Bayero University, Kano, leading Nigeria’s representation.

MAAUN’s inclusion marks a significant milestone for the institution, which was established four years ago, highlighting its growing profile in teaching, research and academic development.

The university had earlier featured prominently in the AD Scientific Index, adding to its recent international recognition.

Speaking on the development, the President of MAAUN, Prof. Ahmed Maigari, described the ranking as a validation of the institution’s investment in research, infrastructure and human capital.

“We are committed to learning, research and innovation. Our goal is to make Nigeria proud by positioning MAAUN among the leading universities in the world. We have invested heavily in modern facilities and attracted highly talented scholars who continue to distinguish themselves through impactful research and quality teaching,” he said.

Maigari said the latest ranking demonstrated that the university’s strategy of prioritising academic quality and global competitiveness was yielding results.

“Having recorded success in the AD Scientific Index, our inclusion in the 2026 Times Higher Education Rankings is another indication that we are moving in the right direction. We aspire to become one of the top 100 universities globally in the coming years,” he added.

Also commenting, Dr. Buhari Abdullahi of the Department of Engineering at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma described the recognition of both MAAUN and AUN as encouraging for Nigeria’s higher education sector.

He said the increasing number of Nigerian universities appearing in global rankings demonstrates that sustained investment in academic quality, research and innovation can strengthen the international competitiveness of the country’s institutions.

Education stakeholders have also welcomed the growing presence of Nigerian universities in international rankings, describing it as evidence of gradual improvements in research output, teaching quality and institutional development.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings assess universities using a range of performance indicators, including teaching, research quality, research environment, international outlook and industry engagement.