UI, UNILAG, UNN lead Nigerian universities in global ranking

The University of Ibadan, UI, has emerged as the highest-ranked Nigerian university in the July 2026 edition of the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.

The University of Lagos, UNILAG, ranked second in Nigeria, followed by the University of Nigeria, UNN, while Covenant University, Ota, occupied the fourth position nationally.

The July 2026 Webometrics ranking assessed 32,148 universities and higher education institutions globally.

UI ranked 1,291st in the world, while UNILAG placed 1,355th. UNN ranked 1,397th globally, with Covenant University occupying the 1,522nd position.

Landmark University ranked fifth in Nigeria and 1,659th globally, while the University of Ilorin came sixth nationally and 1,883rd globally.

The Webometrics Ranking of World Universities is published twice a year and evaluates higher education institutions using indicators including visibility, openness and excellence.

The indicators are designed to reflect institutions’ digital presence, accessibility of scholarly resources and research impact.

Top 50 Nigerian institutions

1. University of Ibadan — 1,291 globally
2. University of Lagos — 1,355
3. University of Nigeria — 1,397
4. Covenant University, Ota — 1,522
5. Landmark University — 1,659
6. University of Ilorin — 1,883
7. Obafemi Awolowo University — 1,986
8. Ahmadu Bello University — 2,068
9. University of Port Harcourt — 2,077
10. Federal University of Technology, Akure — 2,203
11. Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 2,308
12. Bayero University Kano — 2,543
13. University of Calabar — 2,592
14. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 2,728
15. Olabisi Onabanjo University — 2,865
16. Federal University of Technology, Minna — 2,930
17. University of Benin — 3,078
18. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 3,279
19. University of Uyo — 3,470
20. Lagos State University — 3,482
21. National Open University of Nigeria — 3,553
22. Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 3,572
23. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 3,736
24. University of Abuja — 3,764
25. Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 3,787
26. Usmanu Danfodiyo University — 3,793
27. Adekunle Ajasin University — 3,823
28. University of Jos — 4,018
29. Federal University Dutse — 4,074
30. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University — 4,118
31. University of Maiduguri — 4,167
32. Osun State University — 4,208
33. Pan African University Lagos — 4,256
34. Redeemer’s University — 4,334
35. Delta State University, Nigeria — 4,368
36. Kwara State University — 4,368
37. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti — 4,558
38. Ebonyi State University — 4,776
39. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun — 4,930
40. African University of Science and Technology, Abuja — 5,385
41. American University of Nigeria — 5,398
42. Imo State University, Owerri — 5,674
43. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma — 5,702
44. Kogi State University — 5,870
45. Niger Delta University — 5,888
46. Rivers State University — 6,016
47. Joseph Ayo Babalola University — 6,104
48. Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi — 6,424
49. Igbinedion University, Okada — 6,533
50. Kebbi State University of Science and Technology — 6,629

Globally, American universities dominated the ranking, occupying seven of the top 10 positions.

Harvard University retained the number one position, followed by Stanford University.

The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge ranked third and fourth respectively, giving the United Kingdom two institutions in the global top four.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) completed the global top five.

The University of Toronto was the highest-ranked Canadian institution, placing 12th globally.

The latest ranking places UI and UNILAG as Nigeria’s leading institutions, although Nigeria’s best-performing university was ranked outside the global top 1,000 in the July 2026 Webometrics edition.