The University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos are missing from the list of the 30 best universities in Africa for 2015 in a rating released by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The University of Port Harcourt was named as the sixth best university in Africa, trailing four South African and one Ugandan university.
The list, which was dominated by South Africa and Egypt, saw the southern Africa country amass 12 positions on the ranking, with the north African country trailing with half a dozen schools.
Morocco had three universities. Tunisia came up with another three, while Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Ethiopia and Nigeria had a single university in the 2015 ranking.
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According to WEF, “these results are essentially based on the amount of citations there are for the university’s work”.
Quoting Times Higher Education (THE), WEF said the universities are “derived from the methodology for the current world university ranking, using the 13 factors (below), combining THE’s own enormous database of statistics along with the Elsevier’s Scopus database – a system that highlights some of the continent’s top performers in terms of how often research papers are referred to and cited by other academics globally”.
“This methodology is designed for the research-led globally facing university. Times Higher Education emphasised that not everyone in Africa will find the metrics appropriate to their mission or their strategic priorities making this ranking a starting point of a longer, inclusive conversation involving African institutions.”
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FULL LIST OF TOP 30 UNIVERSITIES IN AFRICA (2015):
| Rank | Name | Country | All publications (2009-13) | Citation Score |
| 1 | University of Cape Town | South Africa | 5540.21 | 99.90 |
| 2 | University of the Witwatersrand | South Africa | 4387.17 | 99.76 |
| 3 | Makerere University | Uganda | 1112.69 | 99.72 |
| 4 | Stellenbosch University | South Africa | 4357.33 | 95.48 |
| 5 | University of KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa | 4235.09 | 89.41 |
| 6 | University of Port Harcourt | Nigeria | 573.55 | 88.92 |
| 7 | University of the Western Cape | South Africa | 1154.77 | 84.61 |
| 8 | University of Nairobi | Kenya | 671.72 | 84.60 |
| 9 | University of Johannesburg | South Africa | 2192.74 | 83.64 |
| 10 | University of Marrakech Cadi Ayyad | Morocco | 910.82 | 78.61 |
| 11 | University of Pretoria | South Africa | 4544.33 | 75.89 |
| 12 | University of Ghana | Ghana | 804.53 | 73.31 |
| 13 | University of South Africa | South Africa | 981.67 | 72.51 |
| 14 | Suez Canal University | Egypt | 998.98 | 69.69 |
| 15 | University of Hassan II Casablanca | Morocco | 960.25 | 69.03 |
| 16 | Addis Ababa University | Ethiopia | 893.90 | 64.84 |
| 17 | Rhodes University | South Africa | 1296.96 | 64.54 |
| 18 | University of the Free State | South Africa | 1512.56 | 62.83 |
| 19 | North-West University | South Africa | 1707.94 | 60.75 |
| 20 | University of Tunis | Tunisia | 879.63 | 57.26 |
| 21 | Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Sfax | Tunisia | 822.31 | 57.24 |
| 22 | Université Mohammed V – Agdal | Morocco | 1503.69 | 56.85 |
| 23 | American University in Cairo | Egypt | 700.89 | 56.40 |
| 24 | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University | South Africa | 885.77 | 53.29 |
| 25 | South Valley University | Egypt | 636.85 | 52.49 |
| 26 | Alexandria University | Egypt | 2550.15 | 52.24 |
| 27 | Assiut University | Egypt | 1588.64 | 50.41 |
| 28 | University of Sfax | Tunisia | 2355.30 | 49.79 |
| 29 | University of Yaounde I | Cameroon | 876.33 | 49.72 |
| 30 | Minia University | Egypt | 694.79 | 48.36 |
18 comments
It is no surprice that UNIPORT came 6th, it is just the fulfilment of the dreams of the founding fathers and the foundation upon which the university is built, While older universities in Nigeria have always called themselves great, we have always called ourselves UNIQUE UNIPORT. We were told not to want to be like other Nigerian universities but to be different and do things in a diffent ways especially in our researches and approach to learning. I am happy that this is now receiving international acclaim.
As part of the second batch of students to enroll at UNIPORT and as an alumni of UNIPORT, I am very proud of this rating hoping that the rating will improve by next year. Well done to staff and students that have made this possible, I pray that they keep it up.
UNIQUE UNIPORT is fulfilling the vision.
my Alma mater Unique Uniport definitely making us proud. this recognition is well overdue for an entrepreneural university like uniport. Is a fact that a 3rd class Uniport student can comfortably make a 2:1 in any of the first generation university in 9ja.
Hahahhaha.i laugh 1st class student of uniport can’t stand 3rd class of d likes of ui,oau and co.
Uniport has a very strict grading system which most times permits no error from students….so when people like KEMA make comments such as “a 1st class Uniport student won’t make 3rd class at U.I and OAU”, I kind of laugh at their ignorance. The standard of Education, cost of living and studying and the Research methodology in Uniport is 2nd to none in Nigeria. people should make findings and stop over hyping schools based on past glories. modern factors are used as criteria for ratings. An average Uniport graduate will stand head and shoulders high above others in 9ja…. that is given.
What is the ranking of Uganda Christian University?
Unibadan made it to the list of World top universities as the only Nigerian university and didn’t make it to this??? Lol!!! OK oo
Let them enjoy. I still twale for Ibadan, the one and only.
Its great for Uganda to be on this list no wonder our education system has advanced over time, Makerere university has become a source of number one proffesionals in Africa and the world at large, congs to it.
Which ranking are we to believe? Tomorrow aother ranking will come in which Uniport may not even be in the list. These rankings are becoming jokes.
wow! unique UP.
Can this be true ranking? God knows the real best university in Nigeria
Dats a lie
uniport has a very strict grading system. Getting a 2.1 here no be beans ooo
Just to commend my Unique Uniport, a citadel of learning, as an alumni. I have always felt it in the wind from day one to my convocation because it has made me what I am- a Unique product! Little wonder she came 6th plus the only university rep Nigeria…
Chai something is involved go n check dis again it not believable
I am not surprised with the rankings of the uniport as the sixth among 30th best university in Africa because of the policies and routine strategy of learning the uniport Authority has put in place to which I have undergone to acquire first degree. Congratulations
I did not make mistake in going for a unique Uniport hug.
Irrespective of these rankings on African University education, it may surprise African policy makers on education that The Economist Magazine reported in 2015 that Africa is the only continent that is investing fewer and fewer resources in education of their children generally; therefore, with education sector being more retrogressive per capital of the population compared to US, Europe and Asia. Again, compared to the rate of resource investment in education in the US alone by Federal, State Governments and Municipalities, Africa continent has barely started especially if the continent wants to compete at the global level in the 21st century global economy. It is no secret that most African countrysides have no functional educational systems as dilapidated buildings, teachers with low morale and facilities that are simply at sub-par standards exists everywhere, as pupils still walk barefooted to schools, miles without end every morning. These rankings therefore as good as the efforts may be, hardly touch on the real challenges facing education systems in Africa, including notably the most populated country in Africa: Nigeria. In addition, citing research papers is not enough, there is a need for verifiable data on every element of the education sector: student’s population vis-a-vis the growing population in Africa, general attendance of pupils and students in schools and key performance metric on students, teachers and educational policies’ efficiencies, among other things. How many educational institutions have software and hardware resources installed at Schools and at administrative centers today to benchmark all these key factors? Social and public infrastructures such as education therefore become great priorities if Africa governments want to get to the nitty gritty of the prevalent causes of poverty, ignorance and lack of speedy progress in the continent. Education is simply extremely vital for every child in the 21st century global economy for even development and access to economic opportunities.
ui is the best no doubt….. uniport…. u are deceiving ur self…. you are nothing
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