AE-FUNAI Records 397 Scholars in 2026 AD Scientific Index Rankings

Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI), has recorded a significant milestone in its pursuit of academic excellence, with 397 academic staff members featured in the 2026 AD Scientific Index, a globally recognised ranking platform that assesses researchers based on scientific productivity, H-index, i10-index, and citation impact.

The latest rankings highlight the university's expanding research capacity and reflect the sustained contributions of its scholars to knowledge creation across various disciplines. The AD Scientific Index provides near real-time evaluations of researchers and institutions worldwide, serving as an international benchmark for measuring research performance and scholarly impact.

According to the rankings, Professor Chinedum Eleazu emerged as AE-FUNAI's highest-ranked researcher, placing first in the university, 299th in Nigeria, and 233,904th globally.

Other top-ranked scholars in the institution include:

• Dr. Ademola C. Famurewa – 2nd
• Professor Chukwunonso E.C.C. Ejike – 3rd
• Professor Robert Onyeneke – 4th
• Professor Anthony Chinonso Ekennia – 5th
• Professor Onuegbu O. Ugwu – 6th
• Professor Chinyere Aloke – 7th
• Professor Chukwunonso Peter Okoli – 8th
• Professor Nwogo Ajuka Obasi – 9th
• Professor Fabian Ugwu – 10th

The university said the achievement further demonstrates its commitment to fostering a vibrant research culture, promoting innovation, and advancing impactful scholarship that addresses national and global development challenges. It also strengthens AE-FUNAI's position as one of Nigeria's emerging centres of excellence in research and higher education.

Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Daniel Nwachukwu, described the ranking as a reflection of the dedication, resilience, and intellectual excellence of the university's academic staff.

"The inclusion of 397 of our academics in the AD Scientific Index is a remarkable achievement that reflects the quality of scholarship being produced at AE-FUNAI. This recognition is not only a celebration of our researchers but also an affirmation of our commitment to building a globally competitive university anchored on excellence in teaching, research, and innovation," he said.

Professor Nwachukwu reaffirmed the university's commitment to strengthening research through strategic collaborations, improved research infrastructure, mentorship for early-career academics, and policies that encourage high-impact publications and interdisciplinary research.

He congratulated the ranked scholars on the achievement and urged them to sustain the momentum while inspiring younger academics to pursue excellence in research.

The Vice-Chancellor also assured that the university would continue to provide an enabling environment that rewards innovation, enhances global visibility, and contributes meaningfully to national development through cutting-edge research.

The AD Scientific Index ranks scientists and higher education institutions across the world using internationally recognised bibliometric indicators, providing an objective measure of research productivity and impact. AE-FUNAI's strong representation in the 2026 rankings further reflects its growing reputation as a research-driven institution committed to generating knowledge that advances society.