FG makes tertiary institution ranking compulsory for varsities, polytechnics

The Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to participate in the country’s national tertiary education ranking exercise, expanding the scheme beyond universities. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced this at a meeting with the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee, now renamed the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee.

Alausa stated that the expanded ranking framework aims to enhance quality, accountability, institutional performance, and global competitiveness across the tertiary education system. The ranking will provide clear benchmarks for institutions to assess performance, identify areas needing improvement, and measure progress, while fostering healthy competition among institutions.

Universities will begin the 2026/2027 ranking exercise in September, while the committee will determine the timeline for extending the exercise to polytechnics and colleges of education. The Federal Government will fund the exercise through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, with guidelines to be developed by the government to institutionalize the ranking process.

The initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s education reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, implemented through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative. The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasized that the ranking exercise strengthens accountability and quality in Nigeria's tertiary education system, encouraging institutions to address shortcomings.

The ranking should cover both public and private institutions, establishing minimum standards and helping institutions understand their strengths and weaknesses. Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, chairman of the ranking advisory committee, expressed optimism that sustained investment and stronger institutional capacity, coupled with the new national ranking framework, will enable Nigerian institutions to make significant progress in international rankings.