UNILORIN Ranks Joint 4th in Nigeria as 10 Lecturers Make 2026 World Top 2% Scientists List

UNILORIN has ranked joint fourth among Nigerian universities in citation impact, with 10 of its researchers featured in the 2026 Stanford–Elsevier Top 2% Scientists database.

Professor Adewale George Adeniyi emerged as the university's highest-ranked researcher, placing 31,589th globally in the single-year category.

The University of Ilorin shares the reported fourth position with Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, behind the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; the University of Ibadan; and the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

The development was announced in a report presented to Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, by the university's Project Manager for Ranking Implementation, Professor Suleiman Folorunsho Ambali.

Published on October 7, 2026, the database assesses researchers across 20 scientific fields and 174 subfields. Its single-year category considers citations received in 2025, while the career-long category covers citations accumulated up to the end of that year.

Full List of 10 UNILORIN Researchers

The following researchers featured in the database's single-year category:

The complete list, in the order published by the university, is:

1. Prof. Adewale George Adeniyi
2. Dr Mufutau Opeyemi Bello
3. Dr Folorunsho M. Ajide
4. Ebuka Chizitere Emenike
5. Prof. Ismail Ayoade Odetokun
6. Stephen Sunday Emmanuel
7. Dr Ibrahim Adeshina
8. Prof. Oladimeji Akeem Bolarinwa
9. Ademidun Adeola Adesibikan
10. K. D. Adeyemi

Global Rankings and Research Disciplines

Besides Professor Adeniyi's global position of 31,589th, Dr Folorunsho M. Ajide ranked 56,493rd globally in Economics.

The recognized researchers work across environmental sciences, economics, engineering, medicine, chemistry, fisheries, polymer science and animal science.

Four Researchers Recognized for Career-Long Impact

Four UNILORIN researchers also featured in the career-long category. Professor Adeniyi and Dr Bello appeared in both categories, meaning the university recorded 10 unique researchers across the two lists rather than 14 different individuals.

Unilorin researchers account for approximately 3.3 per cent of the 305 Nigerian scholars featured in the 2026 Stanford–Elsevier Top 2% Scientists database's single-year category.

Stanford Research Ranking by Country in Africa

1. Egypt
2. South Africa
3. Nigeria

The university clarified that the figures reflect the citation visibility of individual researchers rather than a comprehensive ranking of the institution.

Vice-Chancellor prof EGEBEWOLE Congratulates Researchers

Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole commended the researchers for producing internationally recognised work despite resource constraints.

He described the recognition as a starting point rather than a final achievement, urging the scholars to improve their performance in future editions, mentor younger academics, strengthen research teams and develop innovations that address local community needs.

Source: University of Ilorin