Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education will know their positions in the country’s 2026 national tertiary institutions ranking on December 15, following the completion of the assessment exercise.
Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee, NiTERAC, Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, disclosed this in Abuja, explaining that the committee was working through a 17-stage evaluation process ahead of the publication.
He said the final recommendations would be forwarded to the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for consideration and approval before the rankings are made public.
Okebukola explained that the assessment was intended to go beyond comparing institutions, adding that it would serve as a mechanism for improving academic standards, research development and the international reputation of Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“The national ranking exercise is not just about positioning institutions on league tables. It is also about stimulating improvements in teaching, research and international competitiveness,” he said.
The committee chairman also disclosed that 4,203 Nigerian academics had received training on publishing research in reputable international journals as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s research capacity and improve the global visibility of its institutions.
He maintained that the ability of Nigerian scholars to produce quality research capable of attracting international readership and citations would be critical to improving the country’s performance in global university rankings.
The development comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s growing presence in international academic assessments. The 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings increased the country’s representation from 24 institutions in 2026 to 29 in 2027.
Nigeria also recorded the highest number of ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 42 per cent of the 69 institutions from the region featured in the global assessment. An additional 32 Nigerian universities were placed in the Reporter category, bringing the country’s total participation to 61 institutions.
The Federal Ministry of Education had earlier indicated that the national ranking framework would measure institutional performance using 22 indicators covering different aspects of tertiary education, with the objective of encouraging competition and improving academic standards.
Okebukola identified teaching quality, research productivity, academic reputation, research environment and international collaboration as critical areas Nigerian institutions must strengthen to improve their global standing.
As part of the intervention, the committee, through its training arm, the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education, organised a three-day free masterclass between October 15 and 17, 2026.
The programme, themed “Publishing in High-Impact Journals: What Editors and Reviewers Look For,” brought together academics for practical training on preparing research manuscripts for publication in internationally recognised journals.
Facilitators included Professor Olusola Adesope of Washington State University, United States; Professor Jibril Baba of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Professor Obinna Onwujekwe of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Participants were given practical assignments in which they assessed research manuscripts from the perspectives of journal editors and reviewers, identified weaknesses and learnt how to respond effectively to reviewers’ observations.
The training also introduced participants to the Okebukola 12-C Test for High-Impact Publication, a tool designed to help researchers assess the quality of their manuscripts before submission. They were equally trained on identifying credible journals and understanding international publication rankings.
According to Okebukola, the practical approach was intended to reduce unnecessary manuscript rejection and improve the chances of Nigerian researchers securing publication in reputable academic journals.
At the end of the combined examination and practical assessment, 23 participants emerged joint top performers after scoring the maximum 3,060 marks each.
The participating academics came from several institutions, including the National Open University of Nigeria, Abia State University, Nigerian Defence Academy, Covenant University, Babcock University, Lagos State University, Yaba College of Technology, Rivers State University, University of Benin and Obafemi Awolowo University.
Yaba College of Technology recorded the highest institutional participation, with 65 successful scholars, followed by Lagos State University with 43 and Obafemi Awolowo University with 41.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University recorded 39 participants, while the National Open University of Nigeria had 38. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture recorded 25, Olabisi Onabanjo University had 23, while the University of Ilorin and University of Benin recorded 22 participants each.
The National Open University of Nigeria and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology also recorded pass rates of 97 per cent and 95 per cent respectively.
In recognition of outstanding performance, the institute’s management approved the Dr Tunji Alausa Prize for five vice-chancellors who attained the Distinction Plus category in the programme.
The recipients are Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde of Afe Babalola University, who scored 3,040 marks; Professor Oyedunni Sola Arulogun of Chrisland University, 2,945; Professor Gutti Babagana of Kashim Ibrahim University, 2,900; Professor Ibiyinka Agboola Fuwape of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, 2,570; and Professor Akan Bassey Williams of Ritman University, 2,500.
Commending the university administrators, Okebukola said their participation demonstrated the importance of institutional leaders embracing continuous professional development and setting examples for other academics.
He also announced plans for another free practical masterclass in mid-November, which will focus on improving the visibility of academic research and increasing the readership and citation of Nigerian scholarly publications.
The forthcoming programme is expected to feature experts from the African Academy of Sciences, led by its President, Professor Friday Okonofua, as well as Dr Chika Ezeugwu of Harvard University and Okebukola.
The NiTERAC chairman commended the Minister of Education for supporting the national ranking initiative, expressing the committee’s determination to improve the quality and international competitiveness of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
