FILE: Covenant University gate
Covenant University has been ranked the best African university in the 2026 Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings.
The university is ranked first in Nigeria, first in Africa, and 49th globally.
Published on THE’s website on Thursday, the Interdisciplinary Science Rankings measure universities’ contributions and commitment to interdisciplinary science.
Interdisciplinary science integrates knowledge, traditions, and processes from multiple scientific disciplines, or one or more scientific disciplines combined with select non-STEM fields, including social sciences, education, psychology, law, economics, or medical and health disciplines.
In its second edition, the rankings were conducted based on 11 metrics, including funding, measures of success, facilities, administrative support and promotion, publications, research quality, and reputation.
A total of 911 universities from 94 countries were ranked, with Covenant University the only African institution in the global top 50, followed by Egypt’s Cairo University at 69.
In Nigeria, 18 out of 30 universities that submitted data were ranked. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Landmark University, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, and the University of Ilorin were ranked second, third, fourth, and fifth, respectively.
Full Ranked List – Nigeria
Covenant University – 49
University of Nigeria, Nsukka – 161
Landmark University – 201–250
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 251–300
University of Ilorin – 251–300
University of Lagos – 301–350
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 401–500
Obafemi Awolowo University – 401–500
Federal University of Technology, Owerri – 501–600
Ahmadu Bello University – 601–800
Akwa Ibom State University – 601–800
Bowen University – 601–800
Delta State University, Abraka – 601–800
Ekiti State University – 601–800
Lagos State University – 601–800
University of Benin – 601–800
University of Calabar – 601–800
Federal University Oye-Ekiti – 801+
Reporter Status (Not Ranked)
Babcock University – Reporter
Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti – Reporter
Federal University of Lafia – Reporter
Fountain University – Reporter
Godfrey Okoye University – Reporter
Lead City University – Reporter
Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria – Reporter
Nasarawa State University, Keffi – Reporter
Redeemer’s University – Reporter
Rivers State University – Reporter
Thomas Adewumi University – Reporter
University of Delta – Reporter
