By Joseph Erunke
Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has emerged as Nigeria’s highest-ranked university in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings, becoming the only Nigerian institution to secure a place among the world’s top 100 universities for sustainable development.
The ranking, released on Wednesday by Times Higher Education, placed ABUAD 72nd globally out of 1,646 universities from 116 countries and territories, reflecting the institution’s growing international reputation for excellence, innovation and commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With an overall score of 90.8, the university recorded strong performances in key areas such as Climate Action, No Poverty, and Affordable and Clean Energy, reinforcing its standing as a leader in sustainability-focused education and research.
The achievement also made the Ekiti State-based private university the second-highest ranked institution in Africa, behind the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, which placed 39th globally.
