The University of Ibadan, Lagos State University, University of Lagos, and Covenant University have emerged among the best universities in Nigeria and among the top 1,000 in the world.
This was contained in the 2021 Times Higher Education World University Ranking released on Wednesday.
The ranking placed UI, LASU, UNILAG as first, second, and third respectively in Nigeria.
While Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, ranked fourth ahead of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which came fifth; and Obafemi Awolowo University, sixth in Nigeria.
The University of Oxford tops the rankings for the fifth consecutive year, while mainland China’s Tsinghua University becomes the first Asian university to break into the top 20 under the current methodology (launched in 2011).
The US claims a record eight places in the top 10, after the University of California, Berkeley, climbed six places to seventh, but US universities outside the top 200 show signs of decline.
There were 141 first-time entrants in the rankings this year, topped by France’s recently merged Paris-Saclay University (joint 178th).
India has the highest number of new entries (14) and as a result, boasts a record number of ranked institutions (63).
A breakdown of the ranking further showed that UI rose to the 401- 500 bracket to overtake CU, which witnessed a drop from 2018’s 636 position to remain at the top 1,000.
CU was ranked as Nigeria’s best university in THE’s 2020 report after usurping UI since 2018.
LASU placed between 501 and 600 bands, while UNILAG ranked 601–800.
UNN and OAU placed on figures exceeding 1,000.
Summary of the six Nigerian universities in 2021 THE World University Rankings:
1. UI (401 – 500)
2. LASU (501 – 600)
3. UNILAG (601- 800)
4. Covenant University (801 – 1000)
5. UNN (1001+)
6. OAU (1001+)
