In the world of higher education in Nigeria, Covenant University stood out in 2024 by securing the top spot in the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings. This prestigious global ranking, published annually by Times Higher Education, is of major importance to academic institutions worldwide.
The 2024 edition of THE rankings was conducted by assessing 1,907 universities from 108 countries and regions using 18 performance indicators. These indicators measured an institution’s achievements in areas such as teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement and international outreach.
To compile the rankings, over 134 million citations from 16.5 million research publications were analyzed, as well as survey responses from 68,402 academics worldwide. Additionally, 411,789 data points were collected from 2,673 institutions that submitted data for review.
Globally, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom retained its top spot for the ninth consecutive year, the longest reign in the history of THE rankings, surpassing Harvard University’s eight-year leadership that ended in 2011. Stanford University (USA) moved to second place, while Harvard fell to fourth, and the University of Cambridge (UK) dropped to fifth in 2024, after sharing third place in 2023.
In Nigeria, THE’s 2024 ranking of top universities is as follows:
1. Covenant University
2. University of Ibadan
3. Federal University of Technology Akure
4. University of Lagos
5. Bayero University
6. University of Ilorin
7. University of Nigeria, Nsukka
8. Afe Babalola University
9. University of Benin
10. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
The recognition of Covenant University as the top university in Nigeria in this ranking not only enhances its reputation on the national scene but also its visibility internationally. This is a testament to the institution’s continued efforts to promote academic excellence and cutting-edge research.
It is essential to underscore the importance of these international rankings for universities as they provide a comparative assessment of the quality of teaching and research, while stimulating competition and continuous improvement of academic standards. Covenant University, as a leader in Nigeria, exemplifies the potential and dynamism of Nigeria’s educational landscape, while helping to enhance its reputation in the field of higher education globally.