*Covenant, UNN, UI, UNILAG, FUNAAB, UNILORIN, OAU, FUTA, BUK, UNIBEN get impressive rankings
*Superlative performance of our universities, good omen for Nigeria- Okebukola
By Francesca Iwambe, Abuja
In what can be regarded as a cheering news and fresh air from the just suspended eight-month-old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee (NURAC), Prof Emeritus Peter Okebukola, has announced the superlative performance of Nigerian universities in the Times Higher Education 2022 Subject Rankings, released on Tuesday.
Coming on the heels of the impressive ranking of 12 Nigerian universities in the world university rankings published on October 12, the development is a cheering news for the Nigerian university system.
Okebukola, who is also a member of the international advisory board of Times Higher Education World University rankings, said, “In the 2021 rankings, only five Nigerian universities featured in four subject rankings”.
He added that in the 2022 rankings, 48 Nigerian universities are cumulatively listed among the world’s best in 11 subjects/disciplines.
In a statement made available to TheIdeal in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) listed the subjects as arts and humanities; business and economics; education; law; social sciences; computer science; engineering; clinical and health; life sciences; physical sciences and psychology.
Okebukola said, “Noteworthy is the impressive ranking of Covenant University, the only private university in the league tables, featuring prominently in business and economics, social sciences, computer science, engineering, and physical sciences.
“No state university is on the league tables. The federal universities with impressive rankings are University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, University of Ilorin, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Bayero University, Kano, and University of Benin.”
Details of the results which Okebukola released are: Arts and Humanities (University of Nigeria Nsukka=601+); Business and Economics (Covenant University=401-500; University of Lagos=501-600; Obafemi Awolowo University=601-800; University of Nigeria Nsukka=801+);
Education (University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka=501-600); Law (University of Nigeria Nsukka=251+); Social Sciences (Covenant University=251-300; University of Lagos=401-500;
University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka=601-800; University of Ilorin and Obafemi Awolowo University=801+); Computer Science (Covenant University=401-500); Engineering (Covenant University=401-500; Federal University of Technology Akure and University of Ilorin=601-800;
University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=1000+); Clinical and Health (University of Lagos=151-175; University of Ibadan=201-250; University of Nigeria Nsukka=501-600;
Bayero University Kano, University of Benin and Obafemi Awolowo University=601-800; University of Ilorin and Nnamdi Azikiwe University=801+); Life Sciences (University of Ilorin=601-800;
Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal University of Technology Akure, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=801-1000);
Physical Sciences (Covenant University=401-500; Federal University of Technology, Akure and University of Ilorin=501-600; Bayero University Kano=601-800;
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and University of Lagos=801-1000; University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Obafemi Awolowo University=1000+); and Psychology (University of Nigeria Nsukka=301-400).
Speaking further on the results, Okebukola who is also the Chairman, Governing Board of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), expressed appreciation to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed for setting up NURAC and for the commitment they continue to show to improving quality in the Nigerian university system.
He said, “Prof Rasheed is one individual who will not rest until the old glory of Nigerian universities is fully restored”.
“We assure Nigerians that with the ongoing implementation of the Blueprint for the Rapid Revitalisation of University Education in Nigeria, the days of consigning Nigerian universities to the group of non-performers will soon be over”.
