Samuel Omang
Nigeria has emerged as Sub-Saharan Africa’s leader in higher education representation, with 24 universities making the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, more than any other country in the region.
This achievement places Nigeria ahead of South Africa, which has 13 ranked universities, and signals the country’s growing influence in global academia.
According to the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa Insights 2026 report, released Thursday, a record 55 universities from 14 African countries are now featured in the global rankings — a remarkable rise from just 10 less than a decade ago.
The report described the milestone as “a moment of celebration” for African higher education, citing improved academic quality, research visibility, and institutional reputation across the continent.
South Africa, however, remains the region’s top performer, with four universities ranked among the world’s top 500. The University of Cape Town reached its best-ever global position at 164th, while the University of Johannesburg broke into the top 400 for the first time.
For Nigeria, the University of Ibadan (UI) and University of Lagos (UNILAG) made history by entering the top 1,000 universities worldwide for the first time. Ghana’s University of Cape Coast and Uganda’s Makerere University also joined the same category, underscoring regional progress in West and East Africa.
Other nations recorded notable strides: Ghana now boasts four ranked universities, Botswana two, while Kenya and Tanzania maintained two each. Senegal made its debut appearance through Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, marking a breakthrough for Francophone Africa.
A Decade of Rapid Growth
The latest rankings show how far Africa has come. From just 12 universities in 2017, the number of globally ranked African institutions has climbed to 18 in 2020, 25 in 2022, 43 in 2024, and now 55 in 2026 — the highest ever.
Phil Baty, THE’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, said the figures reflect both expansion and excellence:
“We are not just seeing improvements in representation; we are seeing improvements in quality too. This is a great opportunity to build on the momentum and make sure Africa’s universities are ready to drive innovation and development.”
Top 10 Universities in Sub-Saharan Africa (2026)
University of Cape Town (South Africa) — 164th globally
Stellenbosch University (South Africa) — 301–350
University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) — 301–350
University of Johannesburg (South Africa) — 351–400
University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) — 501–600
University of Pretoria (South Africa) — 501–600
University of the Western Cape (South Africa) — 601–800
Makerere University (Uganda) — 801–1,000
University of Cape Coast (Ghana) — 801–1,000
University of Ibadan / University of Lagos (Nigeria) — 801–1,000
Nigeria’s Academic Surge
Domestically, UI also topped Nigeria’s 2026 university rankings, rising from fourth to first position, followed by UNILAG, Bayero University Kano, Covenant University, and Landmark University.
According to THE’s indicators — teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook, and industry impact — Nigerian institutions performed strongly across several metrics.
UNILAG led in research quality, Bayero University in international outlook, and Covenant University in industry engagement.
A New Era for African Academia
The 2026 report also noted a global shift in higher education dynamics. With funding and political pressures slowing progress in parts of Europe and North America, and growth stabilising in Asia, analysts say Africa now has a unique opportunity to assert itself as the next frontier of global scholarship and innovation.
“The rise of African universities marks not just a numerical victory but a shift in global academic influence,” THE said, calling on African governments to sustain investment in research, technology, and international collaboration.
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