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University Directory · Sub-Saharan Africa

Top 25 universities in Nigeria

The 25 leading universities and higher education institutions in Nigeria, ordered by the citations their research has received. Part of the WAC University Directory.

25 institutions listed · data October 2026

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  1. 1

    University of Ibadan (UI)

    Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

    • 51,254 research works
    • 1.5 million citations
    • h-index 332
  2. 2

    University of Nigeria (UNN)

    Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

    • 37,042 research works
    • 782 thousand citations
    • h-index 200
  3. 3

    Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

    Ile-Ife, Nigeria

    • 28,953 research works
    • 654 thousand citations
    • h-index 202
  4. 4

    Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)

    Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

    • 27,697 research works
    • 574 thousand citations
    • h-index 202
  5. 5

    University of Lagos

    Lagos, Nigeria

    • 26,818 research works
    • 519 thousand citations
    • h-index 192
  6. 6

    University of Ilorin

    Ilorin, Nigeria

    • 23,583 research works
    • 444 thousand citations
    • h-index 176
  7. 7

    Federal University of Technology (FUTA)

    Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

    • 19,137 research works
    • 377 thousand citations
    • h-index 167
  8. 8

    Covenant University (CU)

    Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

    • 12,570 research works
    • 375 thousand citations
    • h-index 163
  9. 9

    Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU)

    Awka, Anambra, Nigeria

    • 23,003 research works
    • 279 thousand citations
    • h-index 152
  10. 10

    University of Benin (UNIBEN)

    Benin City, Nigeria

    • 20,480 research works
    • 279 thousand citations
    • h-index 155
  11. 11

    University of Calabar (UNICAL)

    Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

    • 17,795 research works
    • 276 thousand citations
    • h-index 129
  12. 12

    University of Port Harcourt

    Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    • 22,456 research works
    • 249 thousand citations
    • h-index 140
  13. 13

    Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)

    Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

    • 10,038 research works
    • 240 thousand citations
    • h-index 145
  14. 14

    Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH)

    Ogbomoso, Nigeria

    • 12,671 research works
    • 237 thousand citations
    • h-index 142
  15. 15

    Bayero University Kano (BUK)

    Kano, Kano State, Nigeria

    • 15,005 research works
    • 237 thousand citations
    • h-index 169
  16. 16

    Redeemer's University (RUN)

    Lagos, Nigeria

    • 3,627 research works
    • 186 thousand citations
    • h-index 178
  17. 17

    Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA)

    Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

    • 8,429 research works
    • 167 thousand citations
    • h-index 135
  18. 18

    University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)

    Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

    • 9,945 research works
    • 155 thousand citations
    • h-index 136
  19. 19

    Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA)

    Ondo, Nigeria

    • 9,598 research works
    • 141 thousand citations
    • h-index 116
  20. 20

    Landmark University (LMU)

    Omu-Aran, Kwara State, Nigeria

    • 5,026 research works
    • 139 thousand citations
    • h-index 119
  21. 21

    Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO)

    Owerri, Nigeria

    • 10,057 research works
    • 138 thousand citations
    • h-index 117
  22. 22

    University of Jos

    Jos, Nigeria

    • 9,995 research works
    • 133 thousand citations
    • h-index 111
  23. 23

    Lagos State University (LASU)

    Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

    • 9,282 research works
    • 132 thousand citations
    • h-index 130
  24. 24

    University of Uyo (UNIUYO)

    Uyo, Nigeria

    • 11,910 research works
    • 131 thousand citations
    • h-index 133
  25. 25

    Ekiti State University (EKSU)

    Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

    • 9,998 research works
    • 115 thousand citations
    • h-index 109

Ordered by total research citations recorded in OpenAlex (October 2026). Works, citations and h-index are OpenAlex figures for the institution. How the list is made.

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About the directory

How institutions are chosen and ordered

The directory lists 1436 universities, colleges and higher education institutions in 199 countries and territories. In countries with 200 or more higher education institutions recorded in OpenAlex it lists the top 25; everywhere else, the top 5.

Institutions are ordered by the total number of citations their research has received, as recorded in OpenAlex, the open catalogue of the world’s research, with data taken in October 2026. This is a transparent, research-based order: it favours large research institutions and does not measure teaching quality, student experience or graduate outcomes. University systems are left out in favour of their campuses, and faculties or institutes are left out when their parent university is already listed. Names, cities and websites come from OpenAlex and the Research Organization Registry (ROR).

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