He added that the results would be published after the Minister of Education had approved the recommendations submitted by NiTERAC.
Beyond the 2026 exercise, the committee is planning to introduce thematic rankings in 2027, with indicators tailored to Nigeria’s development needs. Okebukola said the proposed system would place greater emphasis on the practical value of tertiary education and the ability of institutions to produce graduates capable of applying their knowledge to real-world challenges.
He explained that the proposed approach would go beyond conventional measures of academic performance to assess how effectively universities prepare students to use their knowledge, develop solutions and contribute to society.
The idea aligns with concerns about the need for graduates to possess practical skills alongside academic qualifications. Okebukola cited the position of the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, who called for functionally educated graduates during the 14th convocation lecture of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.
Okonkwo had emphasised the importance of graduates being able to apply their knowledge competently and ethically while creating measurable value for society.
According to Okebukola, NiTERAC intends to develop indicators that reflect these expectations and potentially provide a model for other African countries pursuing the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s long-term development framework.
The proposed thematic rankings are expected to assess institutions’ recent contributions to innovation and national development. Among the measures under consideration are patents secured, new products developed and processes introduced within the preceding two years to address challenges facing Nigeria.
The initiative would therefore assess universities not only by their academic output but also by the extent to which their research and innovations produce practical benefits for the wider society.
The planned changes come as Nigerian tertiary institutions face increasing pressure to improve research productivity, international visibility, graduate employability and their contributions to economic and social development.
The 2026 national ranking exercise is expected to establish a basis for comparing institutional performance and identifying areas for improvement across the country’s tertiary education system, while the proposed thematic rankings could further shift attention towards the practical outcomes of higher education.
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