10 UNILORIN SCHOLARS MAKE 2026 STANFORD–ELSEVIER TOP 2% LIST
… VARSITY RANKS JOINT 4TH IN NIGERIA
By Temitope Omoniyi
The University of Ilorin has placed fourth among Nigerian higher institutions in recent citation impact, even as 10 of the University’s researchers feature in the single-year category of the 2026 Stanford–Elsevier Top 2% Scientists database.
The University shares fourth position with Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, trailing the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Ibadan, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure.
This was disclosed in a report presented to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, by the Project Manager for Ranking Implementation, Prof. Suleiman Folorunsho Ambali.
Published last Wednesday (October 7, 2026), the database measures high citation impact across 20 scientific fields and 174 subfields. it’s has a career-long category, covering citations through the end of 2025, and a single-year category, covering citations received in 2025. In total, 10 UNILORIN scientists feature across both categories.
In the Single-Year Category, 10 UNILORIN researchers were listed. They are: Prof. Adewale George Adeniyi, Dr Mufutau Opeyemi Bello, Dr Folorunsho M. Ajide, Ebuka Chizitere Emenike, Prof. Ismail Ayoade Odetokun, Stephen Sunday Emmanuel, Dr Ibrahim Adeshina, Prof. Oladimeji Akeem Bolarinwa, Ademidun Adeola Adesibikan, and K. D. Adeyemi.
In the Career-Long Category, four researchers of the University were listed, with Adewale George Adeniyi and Mufutau Opeyemi Bello appearing in both metrics.
The listed scholars represent diverse disciplines including Environmental Sciences, Economics, Engineering, Medicine, Chemistry, Fisheries, Polymers, and Animal Science.
Notably, Prof. Adeniyi emerged as the University’s highest-ranked single-year researcher, advancing to a global rank of 31,589, while Dr Folorunsho M. Ajide made a significant leap to rank 56,493 globally in Economics.
Nationally, the University of Ilorin accounts for roughly 3.3% of Nigeria’s 305 listed scholars, helping the country maintain 3rd position in Africa behind Egypt and South Africa.
The report said that the figures are indicators of citation visibility and not a ranking of the whole university.
Reacting to the accomplishment, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, commended the scholars for producing international-standard scholarship despite resource constraints.
“This recognition is a starting point, not a destination,” Prof. Egbewole stated, adding that “the standing of a university rests on the work of its scholars.”
The Vice Chancellor challenged the researchers “to aim higher in subsequent editions, mentor younger colleagues, build strong research teams, and drive innovations that directly impact our local communities in line with our Vision 1:10:500 trajectory.”
