World varsity ranking:
UNILORIN rated No 1 in research quality
… it’s a reflection of years of patient, disciplined scholarship, says Egbewole
By Abubakar Imam and Mustafa Abubakar
The University of Ilorin has emerged as Nigeria’s number one University in the realm of Research Quality in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, scoring 69.4 per cent, the highest by any Nigerian university ranked this year.
In his reaction to the latest ranking result released last Wednesday (September 30, 2026) at the World Academic Summit hosted by the University of Cape Town, South Africa, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, noted that “this outcome is not accidental but a reflection of years of patient, disciplined scholarship by colleagues who publish work that the world reads and cites.”
Speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin on the development last Friday (October 2, 2026) in his office, the Project Manager, University Ranking Implementation, Prof. Suleiman Folorunso Ambali, said that the ranking assesses universities on five pillars such as teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry.
Prof. Ambali noted that research quality is UNILORIN’s strongest turf, and that the University aims to convert it into wider international recognition and work towards the 801–1000 band in the next edition.
He added that an analysis of the results shows that the University of Ilorin has been “lifted from the 1201–1500 band in 2026 into the 1001–1200 world band”.
Prof. Ambali, who is a former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), noted that the University is now one of the seven Nigerian universities in the global top 1,200.
He added that the University is ahead of the University of Lagos, Bayero University, Kano and the University of Ibadan on quality research, which carries 30% of the overall score and measures how widely a university’s research is cited by scholars worldwide.
Prof. Ambali, who is also a former Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, explained that UNILORIN ranks ahead of the University of Lagos (67.8), Bayero University (66.5) and the University of Ibadan (64.9), saying that the result of UNILORIN is 26 points above the national average of 43.3.
The score, according to Prof. Ambali, combines four field-normalised measures: citation impact, research strength, research excellence and research influence.
He added that “in plain terms, when UNILORIN scholars publish, the world reads and cites their work”
The former Deputy Vice Chancellor said that the results are analysed in a report by the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC), which is chaired by a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter A. Okebukola.
He added that the report confirms that the University of Ilorin is one of the seven Nigerian universities that moved up this year, and one of the five federal universities now in the global top 1,200.
Prof. Ambali said that Prof. Okebukola’s scientific analysis of the result shows that Nigeria has 29 ranked universities, the most in sub-Saharan Africa, up from 24 in the 2026 edition.
He added that focused improvement plans could lift the University of Ilorin and Ahmadu Bello University into the 801–1000 band in the 2028 edition.
On the overall table, Prof. Ambali said that the University of Ilorin is joint fourth in Nigeria, alongside Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University and Landmark University.
Reacting to the development, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, in a statement titled “A Tribute to Our Scholars”, congratulated the entire University community, especially the academic staff.
Prof. Egbewole explained that “this outcome is not accidental but a reflection of years of patient, disciplined scholarship by colleagues who publish work that the world reads and cites.”
The Vice Chancellor thanked every lecturer, researcher, postgraduate supervisor and student whose work contributed to the positive rankings of the University.
He described the achievement as “a milestone, not a destination”, noting that the results also show where more work is needed, notably in global academic reputation, research funding and doctoral output.
Prof. Egbewole, who is also the Vice President of the Association of African Universities (AAU), called on all staff to sustain the effort, publish in indexed outlets, collaborate internationally and support the accurate documentation of the University’s work.
Reiterating the commitment of the University to Vision 1:10:500, which aims to make it first in Nigeria, among the top ten in Africa and within the global top 500, the Vice Chancellor said, “With the support of the entire University community, we shall get there.”
On his part, Prof. Ambali joined the Vice Chancellor in congratulating the staff, especially the academic staff, saying that “Our research is already cited by the world.” He added, “The next step is for the world to know where it comes from.”
