Nigerian tertiary institution rankings scheduled for December release

The 2026 national ranking of Nigerian tertiary institutions is progressing satisfactorily and will culminate in the release of league tables for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education on December 15, 2026. Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, made this known in Abuja while speaking on Friday.

He spoke while announcing that the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education, the training arm of NiTERAC, had trained 4,203 Nigerian scholars in publishing research in high-impact international journals. The former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission explained that the national ranking exercise, mandated by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, was progressing through its approved 17-step process. The December 15 release date remains subject to the minister’s approval of NiTERAC’s recommendations.

Training and Masterclass Details

The three-day free Masterclass, held from October 15 to 17, 2026, was designed to strengthen the capacity of academics to publish in internationally recognised journals. The themed session titled Publishing in High-Impact Journals: What Editors and Reviewers Look For featured lectures by 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 undertook practical exercises in which they assumed the roles of journal editors and reviewers, assessed manuscripts, and practised responding to reviewers’ comments. They were introduced to the Okebukola 12-C Test for High-Impact Publication as an assessment tool for evaluating manuscripts before submission. In the combined test and practical assessment, 23 participants emerged as joint highest scorers with 3,060 marks, drawn from 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.

Institutional Performance and Next Steps

Yaba College of Technology recorded the highest number of successful participants with 65, followed by Lagos State University with 43 and Obafemi Awolowo University with 41. Other institutions with notable participation included Nnamdi Azikiwe University with 39, National Open University of Nigeria with 38, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture with 25, Olabisi Onabanjo University with 23, University of Ilorin with 22, University of Benin with 22 and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology with 21. 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.

VICBHE Management approved the Dr Tunji Alausa Prize for five vice-chancellors who attained the Distinction Plus classification in the training programme. The recipients are Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde of Afe Babalola University with 3,040 marks, Professor Oyedunni Sola Arulogun of Chrisland University with 2,945, Professor Gutti Babagana of Kashim Ibrahim University with 2,900, Professor Ibiyinka Agboola Fuwape of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University with 2,570, and Professor Akan Bassey Williams of Ritman University with 2,500. Prof Okebukola further announced that VICBHE would organise another free practical Masterclass in mid-November focusing on research visibility.