The latest global university rankings have been released, and the number of Nigerian universities in the top spot has decreased for the third consecutive year.. The rankings, which evaluate academic excellence, research output, and global recognition, have placed Covenant University at the forefront. Discover which other Nigerian universities made the cut and how they’re shaping the country’s educational landscape.

For the second consecutive year, Covenant University, a private institution in Ota, Ogun State, has emerged as Nigeria’s best university, according to the 2025 world university rankings by the Times Higher Education (THE).

Covenant is the only Nigerian university that made it to the top 1,000 list of world universities. The number of Nigerian universities in the top spot has decreased for the third consecutive year, dropping from three in 2023 to two in 2024 and now just one in the latest ranking..

Ranking Methodology

The Times Higher Education (THE) said that universities were ranked based on the three main missions of university activity: research, teaching, and impact.

In calculating the points, THE said it used 18 “carefully calibrated performance indicators” grouped into five areas. They are Teaching (the learning environment), Research environment (volume, income, and reputation), Research Quality (citation impact, research strength, research excellence, and research influence), International outlook (staff, students, and research), and Industry (income and patents).

The quality of research takes 30% of the points, and the research environment makes 29%. Teaching makes up 29.5% and International outlook 7.5%. Meanwhile, a university’s ability to help the industry with innovations, inventions, and consultancy makes up 4% of the points.

Nigeria’s Leading Universities

1. Covenant University (801-1000)
2. Ahmadu Bello University (1001–1200)
3. Landmark University (1001–1200)
4. University of Ibadan (1001–1200)
5. University of Lagos (1001–1200)
6. Bayero University (1201–1500)
7. Federal University of Technology Akure (1201–1500)
8. Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500)
9. University of Benin (1201–1500)
10. University of Ilorin (1201–1500)