Dr Kelechi Nnamani, the Director of International Collaboration in University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) said the recent ranking of UNN as third best institutions of learning in Nigeria by the prestigeous SCImago Institutions Rankings (SIR) is an indication that the present Vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Simon Ortuanya will take the university to a greater height.
Nnamani said this in Nsukka on Wednesday while speaking with our correspondent, on the 2026 ranking of UNN as the third best institution in Nigeria by SIR, a globally accepted and respected ranking organisation
He said by this ranking ,UNN has reaffirmed its position as one of Africa’s foremost institutions
of higher learning
“This ranking underscores the university growing international influence in research, innovation, and societal impact.
“It has been celebrated across academic and policy circles as a major indication of the university’s renewed drive toward excellence, global relevance by the new VC , Prof Simon Ortuanya.
“This is remarkable, given the fact that the feat comes barely some months after Prof. Ortuanya assumed office in August 2025 as VC of UNN, a development many stakeholders describe as clear evidence that the distinguished academic administrator hit the ground running right fom the first day he assumed office,”he said.
The director explained that, global rankings are built on cumulative
institutional performance, noting that experts agreed that visionary leadership, strategic coordination,
administrative efficiency, and a strong research culture are critical in sustaining and
accelerating academic growth.
“Many observers view the latest SCImago ranking
as an early reflection of renewed momentum under Prof. Ortuanya’s leadership.
wdely regarded as one of the world’s most rigorous university ranking systems,
” SCImago evaluates institutions using three core indicators: Research Performance (50%), Innovation
Outputs (30%), and Societal Impact (20%), the methodology draws from internationally
recognized databases including Scopus, PATSTAT, Google, Semrush, Unpaywall, and
Overton.
“Beyond publication volume, the rankings measure citation impact, scientific leadership,
innovation relevance, international collaboration, policy influence, media visibility, and
contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“UNN’s impressive performance across these indicators reflects growing strength in
research quality, global visibility, innovation capacity, and societal relevance.
“Many analysts have particularly commended the university’s expanding research footprint, increasing international collaborations, rising citation profile, and stronger presence in
globally indexed scholarly publications,” he said.
Nnamani highlighted that, the institution’s improving societal impact, especially in areas related to sustainability, policy relevance, and scientific visibility, further
highlights its alignment with contemporary global academic priorities founded by the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe as Nigeria’s first indigenous university,
” University of Nigeria has long remained a symbol of intellectual excellence and national
development, the latest SCImago recognition is therefore being viewed not only as a
significant academic accomplishment, but also as a reaffirmation of the university’s enduring
legacy of excellence, leadership, and innovation.
According to him, commendations have continued to pour in for the VC whose leadership is increasingly associated with renewed institutional energy, strategic academic
direction, and measurable progress.
“Many stakeholders believe the ranking signals the
beginning of a broader resurgence that could further position the University of Nigeria among
Africa’s leading universities.
Beyond prestige,
“The ranking enhances opportunities for international partnerships, research
funding, innovation support, faculty collaborations, and global academic engagement, while
strengthening the international recognition of degrees earned from the institution.
” Under Prof. Ortuanya, the University of Nigeria is poised for an even greater
era of academic distinction and global relevance,”he added
Our correspondent gathered that,
2026 SCImago Institutions Ranking (SIR), ranked the University of Ibadan (UI), University of Lagos (UNILAG) and University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) as top-performing institutions in Nigeria,