KEY POINTS

• Nigeria emerges as Sub-Saharan Africa’s most represented nation.

• The University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos make global debuts.

• Regional rankings show broad improvement across 14 African countries.

Nigeria has emerged as the dominant force in Sub-Saharan Africa’s higher education sector, taking the top spot in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

With 24 institutions making the list, Nigeria is now the most represented country in the region, surpassing South Africa, which recorded 13 universities.

According to The Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa Insights 2026 report released on Thursday, the region now boasts 55 universities from 14 countries. This represents remarkable growth from just 10 institutions less than a decade ago, reflecting a steady improvement in both quality and global visibility.

The report described the development as a “moment of celebration” for African higher education, acknowledging the expanding influence of universities across the continent.

Nigeria in 2026 university rankings reflects rising quality

While South Africa continues to lead in performance, with four institutions ranked among the world’s top 500, Nigeria’s progress signals a broader shift. The University of Cape Town remains Africa’s highest-ranked at 164th globally, its best-ever showing. The University of Johannesburg entered the global top 400 for the first time, while the University of Pretoria returned to the 501–600 range after a brief absence.

For Nigeria, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos both broke into the world’s top 1,000 universities for the first time. Ghana’s University of Cape Coast and Uganda’s Makerere University also featured in the same category, underlining the steady progress made by West and East African universities.

Nigeria in 2026 university rankings highlights continental gains

Other countries also recorded growth. Ghana now has four universities on the list, Botswana added two, while Kenya and Tanzania maintained their previous two. Senegal debuted through Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, marking a breakthrough for Francophone Africa.

The report traced Sub-Saharan Africa’s progress over time, from 12 ranked universities in 2017 to 55 in 2026, the region’s highest count ever. Phil Baty, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Times Higher Education, said Africa’s improvement is not only in numbers but also in quality. “We are seeing tangible advances in performance and opportunity. The continent’s universities are positioning themselves to drive research, innovation, and sustainable growth,” he said.

The top 10 universities in Sub-Saharan Africa include the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University, the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, and Nigeria’s University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos, all listed among the global top 1,000.

New opportunities for African higher education

The report noted that shifting global trends, including slower growth among leading Asian universities and funding challenges in the US and Europe, create new openings for Africa’s institutions to expand. By focusing on research, innovation, and international partnerships, experts believe the continent can strengthen its global position in the coming years.

According to PUNCH, the University of Ibadan also topped Nigeria’s 2026 domestic rankings, overtaking its peers to become the country’s best university. The University of Lagos followed closely, with Bayero University, Covenant University, and Landmark University rounding out the top five.

Nigerian universities performed variably across the five core indicators used by THE, teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry engagement. Lagos scored highest in research quality, Bayero led on international outlook, and Covenant excelled in industry collaboration, all pointing to a maturing higher education system with growing international reach.