Nigeria mandates compulsory rankings for all tertiary institutions

The Nigerian Federal Government has mandated that all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education participate in a national tertiary education ranking exercise. Announced by Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, the policy expands the previous scope which only included universities. The initiative aims to improve quality, accountability, and global competitiveness within the sector.

The ranking framework is part of President Bola Tinubu’s education reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda. The 2026/2027 university ranking cycle is scheduled to begin in September, with timelines for polytechnics and colleges of education to be determined by the newly renamed Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee. Funding for the exercise is expected to come from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

This move follows a period of regulatory shifts in the sector. While the government previously imposed a moratorium on establishing new federal and private institutions to address resource overstretch and declining academic quality, recent provisional licenses have been granted to several new private universities, including Abdulfatai Durojaiye University, Jigawa State University of Medical and Allied Health Sciences, Sani Bello University, and Omega University.