ABU Ranks Among Top Universities Globally in 3 Major 2026 World University Rankings

Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, has achieved strong ranking status in three major global university rankings released recently, the Chairman of the ABU Ranking Committee, Prof. Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim, has said.  

Its status was highlighted by the committee in a report on the outcome of the recent World University Ranking. 

The report shows that ABU featured in three recent global rankings namely: the 2027 QS World University Ranking, the Centre for World University Ranking, and the Best Global Universities Ranking. 

For example, when the outcome of the 2027 QS World University Ranking was released on 18th June, 2026, ABU was ranked as the third best Nigerian University and between 1201 - 1400 positions in the world. 

In the ranking result, employment outcome was the university's "best indicator", just as international research network remained its "most improved" rank. 

When, on 1st June, 2026, the Centre for World University Ranking (CWUR) released its global ranking of the "Best 2000 Universities" in the world, ABU achieved good ranking position. 

In the CWUR result, only five Nigerian universities were ranked and ABU was ranked number four (4) in Nigeria and among the top 8.4% universities in the world. 

And remarkably, Ahmadu Bello University was the best in Nigeria in the employability. 

Again, ABU was ranked as the "third best" university in Nigeria, number 18 in Africa and number 558 in the world. 

This was according to the Best Global Universities Ranking released on 16th June, 2026 by the US News and World Report. 

The US News and World Report evaluated more than 2,250 institutions across over 100 countries using 13 indicators of academic research performance as well as global and regional reputation. 

On the QS World University Ranking, the Chairman of ABU Ranking Committee, Prof Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim, said it was heartwarming that ABU was able to retain its third position compared to the 2026 ranking. 

The university, he also said, had actually improved as it recorded an overall total score of 12.2 compared to the 10.8 in 2026 ranking. 

"We have improved across most of the indicators compared to 2026 ranking with employment outcome as our best indicator, and international research network as our most improved rank", he stressed.

This, according to him, was a reflection that ABU's ongoing internationalisation effort was beginning to yield positive outcome. 

He expressed the committee's immense gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and the university management for giving them the opportunity to participate in ABU ranking activities.