Private universities are pulling ahead in Nigeria’s academic race. The 2025 Times Higher Education ranking shows Covenant University and Landmark University beating several federal giants, while Ambrose Alli University sits at the bottom.
Private universities are making bold strides in Nigeria’s higher education landscape. The 2025 rankings by Times Higher Education place Covenant University at the top, while some well-known federal and state universities struggle to keep up.
Here’s the full list of the top 25 universities in Nigeria this year:
- Covenant University, Ogun State
- Ahmadu Bello University
- Landmark University, Kwara State
- University of Ibadan
- University of Lagos
- Bayero University Kano
- Federal University of Technology, Akure
- Federal University of Technology, Minna
- University of Benin
- University of Ilorin
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- Ekiti State University
- Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
- Federal University of Technology, Owerri
- Federal University Oye-Ekiti
- Ladoke Akintola University of Technology
- Lagos State University
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University
- Obafemi Awolowo University
- University of Port Harcourt
- Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
- Abia State University
- Akwa Ibom State University
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University
- Ambrose Alli University
These rankings reflect more than just bragging rights, they show where students may find better resources, stability, and employability. Private schools like Covenant and Landmark are gaining ground through heavy investment and focused administration. On the flip side, underfunded public universities are struggling with strikes, infrastructure decay, and inconsistent policies. The list may not surprise many students, but it still stings for some federal giants.
Is Nigeria’s higher education system being reshaped from the outside in? And will these rankings push public institutions to evolve? The full list might offer a clue or a challenge.
