A global ranking system that evaluates universities, the Scientific Index, has ranked the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as the Second-Best University in Nigeria in the 2026 edition of the Index ranking, reinforcing the university’s growing reputation as one of the country’s leading academic institutions.
In the 2026 University Ranking by AD Scientific Index, 317 Nigerian universities out of a total of 19,336 ranked globally, the University of Ibadan (UI) is placed the Best University in Nigeria, 14th in Africa and 921st in the world.
Following UNN in the 2nd position, is Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State, which ranked 3rd Best University in Nigeria, 34th in Africa and 1,402 globally; while Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) ranked as 4th Best University in Nigeria, 37th in Africa and 1,456 in the world; University of Lagos (UNILAG) placed 5th in Nigeria, 39th in Africa and 1,489 in the world; and FUTA, Akure ranked 6th in Nigeria, 43rd in Africa and 1,554 globally.
The AD Scientific Index ranking system evaluates universities and individual scholars based on research productivity and impact.
According to UNN, the methodology relies on metrics such as the H-index, i10-index, and citation counts derived from Google Scholar data.
In the latest rankings, which assessed 317 Nigerian universities out of 19,336 institutions worldwide, UNN was placed second nationally, outperforming 315 other universities in the country.
Globally, the UNN was ranked 1,197th, and 30th position in Africa, an indication of its growing academic profile and competitiveness on the continent.
University rankings are conducted annually by many international bodies, including the QS World University Rankings, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, Times Higher Education, among others.
These rankings typically assess institutions using various indicators, such as, research output, citations, teaching quality, and international outlook.
The AD Scientific Index ranking comes on the heels of recent assessments by the QS World University Rankings, which placed UNN among the top 20 universities in Africa.
UNN’s research output has also continued to attract global recognition. Recently, a scholar of the university, Prof Obinna Onwujekwe, was listed among the world’s top researchers in the Talent 100 global ranking, in recognition of his contributions to evidence-based health policy, health systems strengthening, and public health.
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, expressed delight over the ranking, even as he stressed that the university would not relent in its pursuit of excellence.
“We are encouraged by the recent ranking by the AD Scientific Index; however, we will not rest on our oars until the UNN is ranked the best in Africa by major global ranking agencies,” he said.
Ortuanya added that his administration would remain focused in its pursuit of upgrading the academic and infrastructural standards of the university.
