None of the numerous universities scattered across Nigeria made it to the Quacquarelli Symonds (Q.S) ranking of top 1000 world universities for 2026
By Chinedu Ogu, Port Harcourt
For the third year in a row, no Nigerian University has broken into the top 1000 of Quacquarelli Symonds (Q.S) World University Ranking. This, analysts, said is as a result of rots and numerous challenges facing high education in the country.
Tentacle gathered that out of 297 recognized universities in Nigeria, only three universities made world rankings. The representation, observers said, is strikingly low.
Tentacle further gathered that the 2026 edition of top 1000 in the Q.S World University Rankings was released on June 19, 2025. The Q.S is a higher education analyst and a for-profit services provider headquartered in London with offices in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Its World Ranking is a popular global ranking system that evaluates and compares universities world-wide. It assesses universities based on various factors, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ration and international student ratio. These rankings are used by prospective students, academics and universities themselves to gauge institutional performance and reputations.
According to the statement from the global ranking, University of Ibadan, (UI) continues to maintain its position in the 1001-1200 band of Q.S rankings for the second consecutive year. UI, the oldest university in Nigeria founded in 1948 has been regarded as the country’s academic gold standard.
Investigations showed that despite chronic underfunding, UI has cultivated a reputation for academic excellence, and has produced some of Nigeria’s most respected scholars, writers and public figures. It is also regarded as one of the best performing federal universities.
However, its global impact is limited by weak international collaboration, outdated infrastructure and a relatively low international student presence, areas that Q.S considers critical in the evaluation process.
Also retaining its spot in the 1001-1200 band is University of Lagos, one of Nigeria’s most dynamic urban universities established in 1962. UNILAG is known for its vibrant academic environment, creative arts, law, engineering and business programmes.
However, like the University of Ibadan, it struggles in areas such as researches and international visibility, sustainability efforts, factors that heavily influence global rankings.
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaira ranking band, 1201-1400, makes it debut in the 2026 Q.S Ranking for the first time. The university founded in 1962 and named after Nigeria’s first Premier of Northern Nigeria is the largest university in Sub Saharan Africa. Its challenges mirror those of most Nigerian public universities, funding gaps, limited global engagement and infrastructural decay.
While only three Nigerian universities made the cut, and continue to trail behind global and even continental peers, Egypt led Africa with 20 institutions in the rankings, followed by South Africa with 11, Tunisia 4, while Ghana and Morocco had 2 each and Kenya, Libya, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia each had one.
Notably, South Africa remains the only African country with universities in the global top 300, the University of Cape Town is at 150th and the University of the Witwatersand at 291st.
In another development, Dentistry students at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) are protesting an alleged move by the University Management to “terminate” their admissions after some have spent seven years in the programme.
Tentacle learnt that the admission turmoil stems from claims of unauthorized admissions and an expired departmental accreditation, though the university offers a different perspective.
The Vice Chancellor, UNICAL, Professor Florence Obi in her reaction stated that the problem is not a loss of accreditation (which is valid until 2027) but rather excess admissions beyond the approved 10 – students quota since the programme inception in 2013/2014.
According to Dev. Reporting, the crises began after 60 final year students sat their professional examinations, but only 32 passed and were presented to Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for verification.
The MDCN, the regulatory body responsible for medical and dental practice in the country, however, failed to process the list after discovering that UNICAL quota for Dentistry was only 10 students per year under the provisional accreditation.
Critics have questioned how the university admitted students well beyond the approval capacity and allow them to progress for several years without addressing the regulatory breach.
According to them, the situation at UNICAL raises concern over academic mismanagement and accreditation failures. These issues again highlight the fragile nature of Nigeria educational institutions which is one of the factors responsible for poor ranking of Nigerian Universities in the global universities ranking over the years.
In the same view, the University of Calabar Alumni Association has challenged the management of the institution to find a solution to the ongoing predicament of over 300 dentistry students whose admission is hanging in the balance.
In a statement issued by the National President, Mr. Paul Eshiemomoh and the National Public Relations officer, Augustine Ukandu, captured the travails of the University of Calabar dentistry students and graduates and avers that what has happened is really unfortunate and is a smear/ dent on the coveted image and integrity of their alma-mater.
The body explained that it was ready to offer its service by way of suggestions and contacts to the university to ensure that a lasting solution was found to the problem as well as to ensure that none of the students and graduates suffers needlessly.
Still in accreditations, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Registrar of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof, Ishag Oloyede and the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu have come down hard on professional bodies in Nigeria over issues bordering on accreditation of courses in tertiary institutions.
Speaking at a meeting in Abuja, Alausa lamented that 25 professional bodies are causing chaos in tertiary institution by usurping the powers of NUC to accredit courses and even closing down programmes in tertiary intuitions for one reason or the other.
The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Nibadu who agreed with the minister said that the law provides that NUC sets minimal academic standards for degrees, whether it is first degree or post graduate degrees and to monitor. He cautioned the professional bodies not to close what they have not opened.
Meanwhile, the students of the faculty of Dentistry affected by the over-admission crisis rocking the intuition have threatened to drag the university to court over what they termed admission fraud.
They warned that if no amicable solution is reached to address the problem, they will be forced to seek legal action. The students who spoke to the press during a protest at Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar where seen carrying placard with urgent pleas like “Induct Our Doctors”, “Save Dentistry in UNICAL”, “No Transfer, Increase Quota”.
The students said they want a resolution that allows them to continue and complete their studies without threat of reassignment or academic erasure.
