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Twenty-four Nigerian universities have secured places in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, with the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Kano, and the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, emerging among the private institutions recognised in the prestigious global assessment.
The 24 institutions comprise 17 public universities and seven private universities, reflecting Nigeria’s growing presence in international university rankings. Other private universities featured include Nile University and Al-Hikmah University.
Leading Nigeria’s contingent are the University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos and Bayero University, Kano, further underscoring the country’s expanding footprint in global higher education.
For MAAUN, the recognition marks a significant milestone barely four years after its establishment, highlighting the university’s rapid growth in academic excellence, research, innovation and quality teaching.
The achievement follows the institution’s strong performance in the AD Scientific Index, where it was previously ranked among Nigeria’s leading universities, reinforcing its growing reputation in the country’s higher education sector.
Speaking on the development, MAAUN President, Prof. Ahmed Maigari, described the ranking as the outcome of years of strategic investment in infrastructure, human capital and research.
“We are committed to learning, research and innovation. Our goal is to make Nigeria proud by positioning MAAUN among the leading universities in the world. We have invested heavily in modern facilities and attracted highly talented scholars who continue to distinguish themselves through impactful research and quality teaching,” he said.
Maigari said the university’s inclusion in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings affirms that it is on the right path towards attaining global academic standards.
“Having recorded success in the AD Scientific Index, our inclusion in the 2026 Times Higher Education Rankings is another indication that we are moving in the right direction. We aspire to become one of the top 100 universities globally in the coming years,” he added.
Commenting on the development, Dr. Buhari Abdullahi of the Department of Engineering, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, described the emergence of MAAUN and AUN in the rankings as a positive development for Nigeria’s education sector.
“MAAUN is a perfect example of purposeful investment in education. The university has excellent learning facilities, a conducive academic environment and scholars making meaningful contributions to research and knowledge dissemination. I am not surprised to see the institution earning international recognition,” he said.
Education stakeholders have continued to commend the growing visibility of Nigerian private universities in global rankings, describing it as evidence that sustained investment, innovation and commitment to quality assurance can position the country’s institutions competitively on the world stage.
They noted that the inclusion of MAAUN, AUN and other Nigerian private universities in the 2026 Times Higher Education World University Rankings demonstrates the increasingly important role of private institutions in advancing academic excellence, research productivity and global competitiveness.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are among the world’s most respected university performance tables, assessing institutions based on teaching, research quality, research environment, international outlook and industry engagement.
