Ekiti State University World Ranking 2026
Track Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti’s (EKSU) Webometrics world ranking history from 2018 to 2026. Webometrics world rank 3,232 in July 2024, ranked 13th in Nigeria and 2nd-best state university in the country in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 (world 1,501), ranked 3rd-best state university in Nigeria by Webometrics 2021, and 27th in Nigeria by EduRank 2025 — with 7,627 publications and 50,320 citations.
Ekiti State University Webometrics Ranking History (2018–2026)
| Edition | Year | Webometrics World Rank | Nigeria Rank | Africa Rank | Impact Rank | Openness Rank | Excellence Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2018 | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2019 | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 2019 | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2020 | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 2020 | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2021 | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 2021 | 2021 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2022 | 2022 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 2022 | 2022 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2023 | 2023 | 3,360 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 2023 | 2023 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2024 | 2024 | 3,360 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 2024 | 2024 | 3,232 | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2025 | 2025 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jul 2025 | 2025 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — |
| Jan 2026 | 2026 | — | 23 | — | — | — | — |
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU) carries the distinction of being the only university in Nigeria to have had its name changed four times within a quarter century — a history that reflects the turbulent institutional, political, and administrative evolution of southwestern Nigeria’s university system since the early 1980s. The university was founded in March 1982 under the Adekunle Ajasin-led civilian government of Ondo State, and was initially named Obafemi Awolowo University, Ado-Ekiti. It was renamed Ondo State University in 1985 under military administration, then University of Ado-Ekiti in November 1999 following the creation of Ekiti State out of Ondo State in 1996. When the Kayode Fayemi government conducted a statewide education summit in 2011 and merged the University of Ado-Ekiti, the University of Education (Ikere-Ekiti), and the University of Science and Technology (Ifaki-Ekiti) into a single consolidated institution, the university received its current name — Ekiti State University — in September 2011. Today EKSU enrolls between 35,000 and 39,999 students across ten faculties — agriculture, arts, basic medical sciences, clinical sciences, education, engineering, environmental sciences, law, management sciences, and social sciences — with the College of Medicine utilising the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Complex in Ado-Ekiti as its primary clinical facility. The university has built a reputation over four decades as one of the strongest state-owned universities in Nigeria, underpinned by Ekiti State’s long-standing identity as the “Fountain of Knowledge” — a region producing an unusually high proportion of Nigeria’s professors, scholars, and intellectuals relative to its population size.
In the Webometrics Ranking Web of Universities, EKSU has held a stable position in the lower-mid range of the Nigerian national table across recent editions. The university recorded a world rank of 3,360 in January 2023 and again in January 2024, placing approximately 23rd in Nigeria in both editions — a consistent showing that reflects its established but not yet dominant digital and open-access publication presence relative to the major federal universities. By July 2024, EKSU improved to a world rank of 3,232 — its best confirmed Webometrics world rank on record — continuing a gradual upward trajectory that also saw it recognised as the 3rd-best state university in Nigeria in the 2021 Webometrics edition. The contrast between EKSU’s Webometrics standing and its performance in the Times Higher Education rankings is, however, particularly striking. In the THE World University Rankings 2026, EKSU emerged as the 13th-best university in Nigeria and the second-best state-owned university in the country — placing in the world band of 1,501, a result confirmed in both the October 2024 and 2026 THE editions. This THE placement was achieved alongside two other Ekiti State institutions — Federal University Oye-Ekiti (17th in Nigeria) and Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (29th in Nigeria) — making Ekiti State the first Nigerian state to have three universities simultaneously ranked among Nigeria’s top 30 by THE, a distinction education analysts attributed to the state’s concentrated investment in research culture and academic quality under successive administrations.
EduRank’s 2025 composite ranking places EKSU 27th in Nigeria and 4,261st globally, built on 7,627 academic publications and 50,320 citations across 64 research topics in which the university scores in the global top 50%. Its strongest internationally recognised discipline is Medicine, where EKSU ranks 18th in Nigeria and 2,121st globally — supported by 4,016 publications and 29,370 citations across pathology, public health, psychiatry, surgery, and family medicine, driven by the university’s clinical research partnership with the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital. In Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, EKSU ranks an impressive 13th in Nigeria and 2,444th globally with 4,277 publications and 28,083 citations — a reflection of its strong tradition in law, sociology, political science, and economics that predates the merger of the three Ekiti state universities. In Mathematics, EKSU ranks 13th in Nigeria and 2,162nd globally with 2,217 publications and 12,991 citations, with particular recognition in statistics, econometrics, applied mathematics, and mathematics education. In Economics specifically, EKSU reaches 13th in Nigeria and 1,508th globally with 1,925 publications and 13,113 citations — one of its highest single-discipline global positions. In Psychology, EKSU ranks 12th in Nigeria and 2,321st globally, reflecting a growing health psychology and psychiatry research cluster. The AD Scientific Index 2026 tracks 243 EKSU-affiliated scientists in its global rankings database, with particular density in natural sciences, medicine, and engineering. For prospective students, research partners, and international agencies, EKSU represents one of Nigeria’s most dynamically improving state universities — holding confirmed THE 2026 placement at 13th in Nigeria, demonstrated strength across 12 internationally ranked disciplines, and a Webometrics world rank improving steadily toward 3,000 heading into 2026.
FAQ – Ekiti State University Ranking 2026
What is Ekiti State University’s Webometrics world ranking? EKSU’s best confirmed Webometrics world rank is 3,232, achieved in the July 2024 edition. In national terms, EKSU has held approximately 23rd place in Nigeria across recent Webometrics editions from 2021 to 2024.
What is EKSU’s Times Higher Education (THE) world ranking? In the THE World University Rankings 2026, EKSU was placed in the world band of 1,501 and ranked 13th in Nigeria — recognised as the second-best state-owned university in the country by THE, a result confirmed across both the October 2024 and 2026 THE editions.
Is Ekiti State University the best state university in Nigeria? In the THE World University Rankings 2026, EKSU is ranked the second-best state university in Nigeria (13th nationally). It was ranked 3rd-best state university in Nigeriaby Webometrics in 2021 — placing it consistently among the top two or three state universities nationally across multiple ranking systems.
When was Ekiti State University founded and why has the name changed so many times? EKSU was founded in 1982 as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ado-Ekiti. It was renamed Ondo State University (1985), then University of Ado-Ekiti (1999) after the creation of Ekiti State, and finally Ekiti State University in 2011 when three Ekiti state universities were merged by the Fayemi administration — making it the only Nigerian university to have had its name changed four times.
What are EKSU’s strongest academic subjects in international rankings? EKSU’s best globally ranked disciplines are Economics (13th Nigeria, 1,508th world), Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (13th Nigeria, 2,444th world), Mathematics (13th Nigeria, 2,162nd world), Medicine (18th Nigeria, 2,121st world), and Psychology (12th Nigeria, 2,321st world) — all based on EduRank 2025.
How large is Ekiti State University? EKSU enrolls between 35,000 and 39,999 students — one of the largest state-owned universities in Nigeria — across ten faculties spanning agriculture, arts, medical sciences, education, engineering, environmental sciences, law, management sciences, and social sciences.
How many EKSU researchers are ranked internationally? The AD Scientific Index 2026 tracks 243 EKSU-affiliated scientists in its global rankings database, with research density concentrated in natural sciences, medicine, and engineering.
Is EKSU a public or private university? EKSU is a public state university, owned and funded by the Ekiti State Government of Nigeria and fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
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