The Times Higher Education (THE) had on Wednesday 2, September 2020, released its World University Rankings 2021.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are the only global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

The THE uses 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments.

The performance indicators are grouped into five areas:

• Teaching (the learning environment);
• Research (volume, income and reputation);
• Citations (research influence);
• International outlook (staff, students and research); and
• Industry income (knowledge transfer).

In its 2021 Ranking, the University of Ibadan (UI) has been ranked in the 401- 500 band and First in Nigeria. This is the institutions best performance since 2016 when the University started featuring on this highly respected and prestigious Universities ranking body, and in spite of a fiercer competition engendered by an increase in the number of universities assessed worldwide by the THE.

The Lagos State University (LASU) has been ranked as Second Nigerian University for 2021. THE in it’s latest ranking placed the Lagos State University among World Universities ranked in the 501-600 bracket.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) took a leap from the range in which it was ranked last year, 801–1000, to a better range of 601–800.  The University was ranked Third in Nigeria and 601–800.

Other Nigerian universities, Covenant University (801-1000), University of Nigeria Nsukka (1000+) and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1001+)

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 includes more than 1,500 universities across 93 countries and regions, making it the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.

Summary Nigerian Universities in 2021 THE World University Rankings:
1. University of Ibadan UI (401 – 500)
2. Lagos State University LASU (501 – 600)
3. University of Lagos UNILAG (601- 800)
4. Covenant University (801 – 1000)
5. University of Nigeria, Nsukka UNN (1001+)
6. Obafemi Awolowo University OAU (1001+)