No higher education institution in the most populous country in Africa made it to the top 10 rankings of universities in 2024, as per recent data released by EduRank.
EduRank, a leading source for social media analytics in the education sector, has unveiled its list of the top 10 universities in Africa for the year 2024.
The rankings were determined based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence, as detailed on the organization’s website. EduRank analyzed 24.5 million citations from 2.16 million academic publications across 1,104 universities in Africa to establish these rankings.
The University of Ibadan (UI) is the highest-ranked Nigerian institution, securing the 13th position in Africa and 1057th globally. Following closely is the University of Lagos (UNILAG), ranked 23rd in Africa and 1,431st worldwide.
Topping the list is the University of Cape Town, recognized as the best university in Africa according to EduRank. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it initially served as a high school for boys before expanding its tertiary-education offerings significantly post-1880.
In second place is the University of the Witwatersrand, located in Johannesburg, South Africa. The university has a rich history intertwined with mining, political activism, and the growth of Johannesburg.
Claiming the third spot is the University of Stellenbosch, also known as Stellenbosch University (SU), a public research institution situated in Stellenbosch, Western Cape province. It is one of the oldest universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, alongside UCT, both attaining full university status on the same day in 1918.
Further down the list, the University of Pretoria (UP) in South Africa ranks fourth, known for its impactful research addressing global challenges. Cairo University in Egypt secures the fifth position, renowned for its excellence in medical education and research.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa is placed sixth, offering a wide array of academic programs and boasting high research productivity. Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, holds the seventh spot, recognized as a pioneering higher learning institution in East and Central Africa.
The University of Nairobi in Kenya is positioned eighth, known for its research focus. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa follows in ninth place, catering to a diverse student body with a significant international presence.
Rounding up the top 10 is the University of South Africa (UNISA), an open-learning institution dedicated to distance education, as highlighted on its website. EduRank employs statistical analyses to create comprehensive university rankings across various fields, regions, and globally.