The University of Ibadan has emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked university in the July 2026 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, with the University of Lagos and University of Nigeria following closely behind.

The latest ranking, published in July 2026, assessed 32,148 universities and higher education institutions worldwide using indicators including visibility, openness and excellence, which measure institutions’ digital presence, accessibility of scholarly resources and research impact.

UI placed 1,291st globally to take the top position in Nigeria, while UNILAG ranked 1,355th worldwide and second nationally. The University of Nigeria came third in Nigeria and 1,397th globally, while Covenant University, Ota, occupied fourth place nationally and 1,522nd globally.

The Webometrics ranking is published twice a year and focuses substantially on the global web presence and research visibility of higher education institutions.

Top 50 Nigerian institutions

1. University of Ibadan — 1,291 globally
2. University of Lagos — 1,355
3. University of Nigeria — 1,397
4. Covenant University, Ota — 1,522
5. Landmark University — 1,659
6. University of Ilorin — 1,883
7. Obafemi Awolowo University — 1,986
8. Ahmadu Bello University — 2,068
9. University of Port Harcourt — 2,077
10. Federal University of Technology, Akure — 2,203
11. Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 2,308
12. Bayero University Kano — 2,543
13. University of Calabar — 2,592
14. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 2,728
15. Olabisi Onabanjo University — 2,865
16. Federal University of Technology, Minna — 2,930
17. University of Benin — 3,078
18. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta — 3,279
19. University of Uyo — 3,470
20. Lagos State University — 3,482
21. National Open University of Nigeria — 3,553
22. Federal University of Technology, Owerri — 3,572
23. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike — 3,736
24. University of Abuja — 3,764
25. Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 3,787
26. Usmanu Danfodiyo University — 3,793
27. Adekunle Ajasin University — 3,823
28. University of Jos — 4,018
29. Federal University Dutse — 4,074
30. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University — 4,118
31. University of Maiduguri — 4,167
32. Osun State University — 4,208
33. Pan African University Lagos — 4,256
34. Redeemer’s University — 4,334
35. Delta State University — 4,368
36. Kwara State University — 4,368
37. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti — 4,558
38. Ebonyi State University — 4,776
39. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun — 4,930
40. African University of Science and Technology, Abuja — 5,385
41. American University of Nigeria — 5,398
42. Imo State University, Owerri — 5,674
43. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma — 5,702
44. Kogi State University — 5,870
45. Niger Delta University — 5,888
46. Rivers State University — 6,016
47. Joseph Ayo Babalola University — 6,104
48. Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi — 6,424
49. Igbinedion University, Okada — 6,533
50. Kebbi State University of Science and Technology — 6,629.

Globally, Harvard University retained the number-one position, followed by Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Oxford University and the University of Washington completed the top five. Seven of the global top 10 institutions were from the United States.

Despite UI’s leading position nationally, the university ranked 1,291st globally, meaning no Nigerian institution made the global top 1,000 in the July 2026 Webometrics edition.