Nigerian universities are on course for record-breaking performances in global rankings from 2027, according to Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola. He chairs the Nigerian Tertiary Education and Research Analysis Committee (NiTERAC).
Okebukola gave the projection on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. He spoke at the weekly meeting of NiTERAC and Directors of Academic Planning. A statement issued on Thursday detailed his remarks.
Three Factors Behind the Projection
First, he pointed to the mandatory national ranking exercise. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa introduced it on September 1, 2026. Okebukola said it has stirred up competition among federal, state and private universities. Schools that rarely publicised their achievements are now showing off their strengths.
“This mandatory directory has caused mass mobilisation of tertiary institutions in the country to gear up for the 2026 national ranking exercise,” he said.
Second, more academics are joining Google Scholar and similar citation-tracking platforms. Okebukola said this has widened Nigeria’s citation data considerably. Research output and citations feed into international rankings, either directly or indirectly. So the trend could lift Nigeria’s standing from 2027.
Third, the design of the 2026 national rankings itself will help. The exercise uses 22 indicators drawn from the world’s four leading ranking systems. Okebukola said this will familiarise universities with the standards global agencies apply. It should also prepare them to compete in the years ahead.
Where the 2026 Exercise Stands
The university rankings have reached the 12th stage of a 17-step process. Rankings of polytechnics and colleges of education are also moving forward. All categories must be completed by December 15, 2026.
Results will only be released after the Education Minister approves NiTERAC’s recommendations.
Thematic Rankings Planned for 2027
Okebukola also announced plans for thematic rankings from 2027. He described the approach as a first in the global ranking landscape.
The framework will follow Nigeria’s development priorities. It will focus on how well institutions produce graduates who can apply knowledge to real problems. In his view, the indicators will test functional education, not just theory and conventional academic measures.
He cited a call by Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines. Okonkwo made it at the 14th convocation lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. He urged institutions to produce graduates who can use knowledge competently, apply it ethically and create value for society.
The thematic rankings will also measure innovations from the previous two years. These include patents secured, new products developed and processes introduced to tackle national challenges.
Okebukola added that NiTERAC wants the indicators to serve as a model for other African countries pursuing the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The shift comes as Nigerian universities face growing pressure to improve visibility, research output and graduate employability. The 2026 exercise will give a baseline for judging institutional performance and spotting areas that need work.
