FG’s universities, polytechnics ranking plan faces credibility test

The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to introduce a national ranking system for its tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The new system aims to drive competition, accountability, and reforms in the country's tertiary education sector. Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, and Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, the Chairman of the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee, are spearheading the initiative.

The proposed ranking system is expected to be completed by December 15, 2026. While the initiative builds on some progress made by Nigerian universities in global rankings, recent assessments still highlight concerns about research funding, teaching quality, infrastructure, international visibility, and institutional reputation.

The launch of the national ranking system seeks to move beyond traditional league tables and instead stimulate healthy competition, establish benchmarks for institutional performance, and ultimately improve Nigeria's tertiary institutions nationally and internationally.

The ranking will encompass universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, covering 22 agreed-upon indicators with the League of Directors of Academic Planning. Unlike international rankings that focus primarily on universities, the Nigerian system will recognize the unique roles and contributions of each institution type. By doing so, the ranking system aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of the country's tertiary education landscape.

However, the success of the initiative will depend heavily on its methodology. A transparent and verifiable framework that accounts for the distinct responsibilities of each institution type will be crucial. Critics argue that applying identical standards to institutions with different mandates, resources, and purposes could generate misleading comparisons.

Nevertheless, supporters of the ranking system believe that it could be a practical mechanism for identifying high-performing institutions and encouraging continuous improvement in Nigeria's tertiary education sector.