New tertiary school rankings set for December release

The Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee announced that the 2026 national ranking of tertiary institutions will be released on 15 December. The release depends on approval by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. The report will feature league tables for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Chairman Prof Peter Okebukola spoke in Abuja about the update. He stated that the evaluation follows a 17-step process before submission to the minister. The ranking aims to encourage better teaching, research and global standing among schools.

Alongside the ranking project, NiTERAC noted that 4,203 Nigerian academics finished a free three-day masterclass. The training focused on publishing in high-impact journals. The Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education organised the session from 15 to 17 October. Prof Olusola Adesope, Prof Jibril Baba and Prof Obinna Onwujekwe delivered lectures. Attendees practised editorial and reviewer tasks and learned the Okebukola 12-C Test for High-Impact Publication.

Twenty-three participants scored the top mark of 3,060. Scholars attended from schools such as 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 had 65 successful participants, the highest total. Lagos State University followed with 43, while Obafemi Awolowo University recorded 41.

Five vice-chancellors received the Distinction Plus award. Prof Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde of Afe Babalola University and Prof Oyedunni Sola Arulogun of Chrisland University were among the recipients. Okebukola stated that their participation shows the value of ongoing learning and leadership.

NiTERAC scheduled another free masterclass for mid-November. The session will concentrate on research visibility and citation impact. Instructors will include scholars from the African Academy of Sciences, Dr Chika Ezeugwu of Harvard University and Okebukola. The goal is to give academics practical skills to improve the reach and citation of their work.

The Federal Ministry of Education previously shared the ranking framework. It will judge universities on 22 indicators, including teaching quality, research environment, academic reputation, research productivity and international collaboration. This work follows the recent increase in Nigerian representation on the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. That list included 29 Nigerian universities for 2027, compared to 24 for 2026. Nigeria now has the most ranked universities in sub-Saharan Africa, making up 42 per cent of the region on the global list.