Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria has emerged as the leading country in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, with 24 institutions listed — the highest in the region.
This surpasses South Africa’s 13 universities, while the region now records 55 universities from 14 countries, according to the report released Thursday on THE’s website.
THE’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Phil Baty, described Africa’s progress as “a great opportunity to drive innovation and development.”
For Nigeria, the University of Ibadan and University of Lagos entered the world’s top 1,000 universities for the first time, alongside Ghana’s University of Cape Coast and Uganda’s Makerere University.
South Africa’s University of Cape Town ranked 164th globally, its best ever.
“These ranking highlights growing quality and visibility for Africa’s higher education,” Baty said.
The report also shows that from 12 universities in 2017, Sub-Saharan Africa’s presence has surged to 55 in 2026, marking its strongest growth yet.
Experts say this momentum could position Africa as a global hub for research, innovation, and collaboration amid shifts in the global education landscape.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
Chukwu Obinna 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Otamere Gladness