By Erewunmi Peace

The University of Ibadan (UI) has been named Nigeria’s best university in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, reclaiming the top spot ahead of Covenant University and the University of Lagos.

According to the latest THE global ranking released this week, UI ranked within the 801–1000 band globally, making it the highest-ranked Nigerian institution in the world. The University of Lagos (UNILAG) also featured in the same global band, while Covenant University, which held the top national position in the 2024 and 2025 rankings, fell to a lower band this year.

The University of Ibadan, in an official statement published on its website, described the recognition as “a reaffirmation of the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, impactful research, and quality education.”

“The status of the University of Ibadan as a leading institution has once again been re-established through the 2026 Times Higher Education ranking,” the statement read.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 assessed over 2,000 universities across 120 countries, using indicators such as teaching quality, research strength, international outlook, and industry influence.