FUTMinna Emerges Among Top 50 in Inaugural QS Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings

The Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna) has been recognised among 50 selected institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa with an Award of Excellence, out of 69 universities that met the inclusion criteria for the inaugural Quacquarelli Symonds ( QS) World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa 2026.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu Kuta, received the award at the official launch of the QS Sub-Saharan Africa Rankings 2026, held on Friday, February 13, 2026, at the headquarters of the Association of African Universities (AAU) in Accra, Ghana.QS, a globally recognised higher education analytics and rankings organisation, published the first-ever regional ranking dedicated to Sub-Saharan African universities in February 2026.

The initiative is designed to spotlight academic excellence, research performance, sustainability, and global engagement within the region, using indicators tailored to reflect local educational contexts.In his welcome address, the Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, described the occasion as a significant milestone representing the celebration and recognition of academic excellence and institutional development across the African continent.

He emphasised that university rankings in Africa play a vital role in strengthening higher education systems. According to him, rankings promote healthy competition, serve as an important instrument for quality assurance, and provide benchmarks that enable institutions to evaluate their strengths and address areas requiring improvement.

This process, he noted, supports universities in adopting best practices and developing strategies to enhance academic research, teaching quality, and community engagement.Prof. Oyewole further highlighted that rankings help universities attract investment, provide reliable information for students and academics, and foster a culture of accountability.

He added that the preparation process for ranking evaluations often drives institutions to improve teaching standards and expand international collaborations.Expressing confidence in QS, he noted that the organisation is globally recognised for its rigorous methodology and its role in encouraging collaboration among African universities, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

According to him, rankings symbolise the strengthening of research excellence, teaching quality, and international engagement, while affirming Africa’s growing leadership in global higher education.He expressed optimism that the initiative would inspire institutions across the continent to embrace continuous improvement and take full advantage of the opportunities presented by the programme.

Other presentations at the event included a session by Dr. Ashwin Fernandes, Vice-President (Strategic & International Engagement) at QS, who spoke on the context, objectives, and highlights of the QS Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings 2026.

Wesley Fa Silva Siqueira from QS’s Product and Research Advisory team delivered a “Methodology Masterclass,” providing insights into the framework and evaluation criteria used for the rankings.A major highlight of the event was the formal presentation of awards to the ranked universities.