Nigerian universities are expected to improve their performance in global rankings from 2027, driven by increased competition, rising research citations and a new national ranking framework, the Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education and Research Analysis Committee (NiTERAC), Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, has said.
Okebukola made the projection during a meeting with directors of academic planning on Wednesday, attributing the anticipated progress to the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the assessment of tertiary institutions.
He said the mandatory national ranking exercise introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on September 1, 2026, had encouraged federal, state and private universities to document their achievements in teaching, research and community service.
According to him, the growing participation of Nigerian academics in Google Scholar and other citation-tracking platforms is also expected to improve the international visibility of local institutions.
Okebukola explained that the 2026 national ranking exercise uses 22 indicators drawn from four leading global ranking systems to familiarise Nigerian universities with international standards.
He disclosed that the ranking process had reached the 12th stage of a 17-step procedure, while rankings for polytechnics and colleges of education were also ongoing. The exercise is expected to be completed by December 15, 2026, with results to be released after approval by the Minister of Education.
The NiTERAC chairman also announced plans to introduce thematic rankings from 2027, focusing on Nigeria’s development priorities and the practical contributions of tertiary institutions to society.
He said the proposed framework would assess innovations produced by institutions within the preceding two years, including patents, new products and processes developed to address national challenges.
Okebukola added that the initiative could serve as a model for other African countries pursuing the African Union’s Agenda 2063, while encouraging universities to improve research productivity, graduate employability and their contributions to economic and social development.
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