Federal Government Unveils 22 Criteria for National Tertiary Education Ranking

By December 15, 2026, the Federal Government aims to conclude its nationwide assessment of tertiary institutions, which encompasses universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This comprehensive ranking initiative, where universities will be evaluated against 22 specific metrics, is designed to bolster institutional efficacy and elevate Nigeria's standing in global educational competitiveness.

This undertaking is being coordinated by the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC), an arm of the Federal Ministry of Education. Its primary goals include creating a standardized national system for evaluating institutional output, pinpointing areas needing improvement, and fostering healthy rivalry among both government-owned and private tertiary institutions.

Professor Peter Okebukola, who chairs NiTERAC, unveiled particulars of this ranking process during a presentation. The document, dated September 30, 2026, focused on Nigeria’s achievements in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings and was shared with The PUNCH. Professor Okebukola stated that the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, had mandated this ranking, which will encompass all three types of tertiary institutions.

“As directed by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee has started the process of the 2026 ranking of Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education,” Professor Okebukola affirmed. He continued, “The national ranking is intended to stimulate healthy internal competition among Nigerian tertiary institutions and to position the Nigerian tertiary education system for improved global ranking in the coming years. The university ranking will use 22 indicators, with weightings agreed with the League of Directors of Academic Planning, and the three sub-sector rankings are scheduled for completion before 15 December 2026. Section 13 describes the exercise.”

This initiative marks a significant broadening of the government's strategy for evaluating higher education, now extending beyond just universities to integrate polytechnics and colleges of education. The performance of Nigerian institutions in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings serves as a crucial benchmark for the government's aspirations.

During his presentation, Professor Okebukola highlighted that 29 Nigerian universities made it into the global rankings, an increase from 24 in the prior edition, thereby positioning Nigeria as the most represented nation in sub-Saharan Africa. Notably, the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Covenant University secured positions within the 801–1,000 global band. Additionally, four other Nigerian universities were placed in the 1,001–1,200 category. Another 32 Nigerian institutions were classified under the 'Reporter' category, bringing the total number of institutions that either submitted data or participated in the ranking process to 61. This 'Reporter' status signifies that while an institution provided data, it did not fulfill all the criteria necessary for inclusion in the main ranked tables.

The presentation further revealed that out of the 328 universities accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), only 29 achieved a ranked status. Key areas pinpointed for continuous focus include research funding, the volume and quality of publications, efficient institutional data management, and fostering international collaborations. Disparities among institutions were also observed in aspects such as teaching methodologies, the calibre of research, engagement with industries, and global perspective.

This forthcoming national ranking aims to offer Nigerian institutions a localized standard to gauge their performance, pinpoint deficiencies, and strategize for enhancements. The entire process, which includes data gathering, verification, and the finalization of the assessment framework, is slated to be concluded for all three sub-sectors before the December 15, 2026, deadline.