Nigeria's Top 2% Scientists 2025

Nigeria has 291 scientists on the 2025 single-year Top 2% list, up 24.9% from 233 in 2024. That places Nigeria 45th in the world by number of listed scientists, up 2 places. University of Nigeria has the most listed scientists (19), followed by University of Ibadan (16).

Single Year

291

+58 (+24.9%) vs 2024

Career Data

142

+25 (+21.4%) vs 2024

World rank by count

#45

up 2 places vs 2024

Institutes

108

+29 (+36.7%) vs 2024

Scientists in Nigeria on the list, by year

The single-year count has more than tripled since 2020.

Single-year list, change on the previous year

2021+70.4%

2022+24.0%

2023+24.0%

2024+25.3%

2025+24.9%

Show the numbers

Year	Single Year	Change	Career Data	Change
2020	71		42
2021	121	+70.4%	73	+73.8%
2022	150	+24.0%	87	+19.2%
2023	186	+24.0%	99	+13.8%
2024	233	+25.3%	117	+18.2%
2025	291	+24.9%	142	+21.4%

Top 10 institutes in Nigeria

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2025

Show the list

All 291 scientists

Single-year list2025

The first 100 are free to browse.

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Rank in Nigeria	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	1,336	OP Ozili, Peterson K.	Central Bank of Nigeria	Finance	Rank 7
2	3,608	OB Olusanya, Bolajoko O.	Centre for Healthy Start Initiative	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 79
3	4,363	NS Nathaniel, Solomon Prince	University of Lagos	Environmental Sciences	Rank 96
4	4,907	OM Owolabi, Mayowa O.	University College Hospital, Ibadan	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 248
5	5,039	OA Olajire, Abass Abiola	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 107
6	5,464	EJ Egbueri, Johnbosco C.	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 112
7	8,318	IJ Ighalo, Joshua O.	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 172
8	10,239	AI Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi	Ahmadu Bello University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 225
9	10,624	IC Idumah, Christopher Igwe	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Polymers	Rank 71
10	14,409	Iwuozor, Kingsley O.	Nigeria Sugar Institute	Environmental Sciences	Rank 314
11	15,083	OG Oboh, Ganiyu	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 142
12	18,192	Yusuff, Adeyinka Sikiru	Afe Babalola University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 400
13	21,911	OE Oguzie, Emeka Emmanuel	Federal University of Technology, Owerri	Materials	Rank 403
14	22,075	OK Owolabi, Kolade Matthew	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Mathematical Physics	Rank 12
15	23,767	RL Ridwan, Lanre Ibrahim	University of Lagos	Environmental Sciences	Rank 519
16	25,281	Ekholuenetale, Michael	University of Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 360
17	26,487	EE Ezugwu, Emmanuel Okechukwu	Air Force Institute of Technology	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 264
18	30,793	BO Bello, Olugbenga Solomon	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 679
19	31,926	AA Adeniyi, Adewale George	University of Ilorin	Environmental Sciences	Rank 701
20	33,669	AI Animasaun, Isaac Lare	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 338
21	34,724	AK Alaneme, Kenneth Kanayo	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Materials	Rank 694
22	36,972	PL Popoola, L. T.	Afe Babalola University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 824
23	37,799	Ilesanmi, Olayinka Stephen	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 535
24	39,579	ST Sulaıman, Tukur Abdulkadir	Federal University Dutse	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 86
25	40,331	OO Onwujekwe, Obinna E.	University of Nigeria	Health Policy & Services	Rank 75
26	41,862	RA Rafindadi, Abdulkadir Abdulrashid	Usmanu Danfodiyo University	Energy	Rank 1,167
27	42,536	EP Ejegwa, Paul Augustine	Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 1,846
28	44,084	LA Lawal, Abdulazeez T.	Fountain University	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 238
29	45,079	FM Folayan, Morenike O.	Nigerian Institute of Medical Research	Dentistry	Rank 193
30	47,653	LR Loto, Roland Tolulope	Covenant University	Materials	Rank 970
31	48,078	Igwegbe, Chinenye Adaobi	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Chemical Engineering	Rank 354
32	49,613	Lawal, Olayide Samuel	Federal University, Oye-Ekiti	Food Science	Rank 549
33	49,985	Fagbamigbe, Adeniyi Francis	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 687
34	50,006	AR Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola	College Research and Innovation Hub	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 2,253
35	51,062	Ogoina, Dimie	Niger Delta University	Tropical Medicine	Rank 46
36	51,325	SO Sunday, O. Oyedepo	Bells University of Technology	Energy	Rank 1,499
37	52,025	ON Oladoja, Nurudeen Abiola	Adekunle Ajasin University	Chemical Engineering	Rank 398
38	52,086	FE Farombi, Ebenezer Olatunde	University of Ibadan	Toxicology	Rank 179
39	53,782	AK Ajide, Kazeem Bello	University of Lagos	Economics	Rank 735
40	53,879	AA Adefegha, Adeniyi S.	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 610
41	53,996	UK Ukwaja, Kingsley Nnanna	Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 738
42	54,046	DY Daniel, Yahaya Shagaiya	Kaduna State University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 528
43	54,189	DS Dahunsi, Samuel Olatunde	Bowen University	Energy	Rank 1,589
44	54,796	OI Okeke, Iruka N.	University of Ibadan	Microbiology	Rank 1,070
45	55,154	YA Yusuf, Abdullahi	Federal University Dutse	General Physics	Rank 358
46	56,054	Oke, Ayodeji Emmanuel	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Building & Construction	Rank 467
47	56,304	AT Ayodele, Temitope Raphael	University of Ibadan	Energy	Rank 1,643
48	58,530	Saheed, Yakub Kayode	American University of Nigeria	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 2,482
49	59,899	AA Adewuyi, Adewale A.	Redeemer‘s University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,342
50	60,339	LA Lateef, A.	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 922
51	60,611	OK Onyelowe, Kennedy Chibuzor	Michael Okpara University of Agriculture	Civil Engineering	Rank 268
52	60,706	ET Egbosiuba, Titus Chinedu	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University	Chemical Engineering	Rank 470
53	61,281	OL Olatomiwa, Lanre Joseph	Federal University of Technology, Minna	Energy	Rank 1,804
54	62,867	Adegoke, Kayode Adesina	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,411
55	63,826	BM Bello, Mufutau Opeyemi	University of Ilorin	Energy	Rank 1,900
56	65,398	AJ Agushaka, Jeffrey Ovre	Federal University, Lafia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 2,772
57	65,498	Salawu, Sulyman Olakunle	Bowen University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 639
58	65,529	EN Eddy, Nnabuk Okon	University of Nigeria	Energy	Rank 1,953
59	67,097	OA Oluranti Agboola, Oluranti S.	Covenant University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 660
60	67,634	Peter, Olumuyiwa James	University of Medical Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 2,879
61	67,887	UC Uneke, Chigozie Jesse	Ebonyi State University	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 899
62	68,074	Adebisi, Yusuff Adebayo	University of Ibadan	Public Health	Rank 678
63	72,621	AF Ajide, Folorunsho M.	University of Ilorin	Economics	Rank 952
64	73,350	OK Okunade, Kehinde Sharafadeen	College of Medicine, University of Lagos	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 384
65	74,003	Salau, Ayodeji Olalekan	Afe Babalola University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 3,147
66	74,894	AJ Awotunde, Joseph Bamidele	University of Ilorin	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 3,189
67	76,708	AA Ayanlade, Ayansina	Obafemi Awolowo University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 1,369
68	77,471	OS Olatunji, Sunday Olusanya	Adekunle Ajasin University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 3,293
69	77,480	AC Adetunji, Charles O.	Edo University Iyamho	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,766
70	77,984	LC Loto, Cleophas Akintoye	Covenant University	Materials	Rank 1,710
71	80,945	WM Welcome, Menizibeya Osain	Nile University of Nigeria	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 501
72	82,084	OE Okeke, Emmanuel Sunday	University of Nigeria	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,881
73	82,508	LA Lawal, Abiodun Ismail	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 876
74	83,823	AI Atadashi, I. M.	Adamawa State University, Mubi	Energy	Rank 2,524
75	84,004	AD Akinyele, Daniel Oluwaseun	Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology	Energy	Rank 2,531
76	86,057	TA Taiwo, Adewale Matthew	Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,995
77	86,144	HA Habib, Abdulrazaq Garba	Bayero University	Tropical Medicine	Rank 81
78	86,511	AK Akpomie, Kovo Godfrey	University of Nigeria	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,005
79	87,938	Abiodun, Oludare Isaac	University of Abuja	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 3,747
80	88,207	Benson, Nsikak U.	Topfaith University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,051
81	88,377	HL Hitler, Louis	University of Calabar	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,059
82	88,475	KL Kola, Lola	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	Psychiatry	Rank 1,398
83	89,521	AS Abarikwu, Sunny Okechukwu	University of Port Harcourt	Toxicology	Rank 322
84	92,635	AO Adekiya, O. Aruna	Bowen University	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 651
85	92,976	BE Betiku, Eriola	Obafemi Awolowo University	Energy	Rank 2,818
86	94,125	IE Igbinosa, Etinosa O.	University of Benin	Microbiology	Rank 1,788
87	95,337	OB Oladapo, Bankole I.	Afe Babalola University	Materials	Rank 2,126
88	95,436	OF Okonofua, Friday Ebhodaghe	Women's Health and Action Research Centre	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 514
89	95,498	AA Adenle, Ademola A.	Covenant University	Agricultural Economics & Policy	Rank 106
90	98,896	TA Tella, Adeyinka	University of Ilorin	Information & Library Sciences	Rank 82
91	99,836	EC Enyoh, Christian Ebere	Imo State University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,320
92	99,959	EO Evans, Olaniyi	Pan-Atlantic University	Business & Management	Rank 2,193
93	100,061	Olasunkanmi, Lukman O.	Obafemi Awolowo University	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,193
94	100,621	AA Ademosun, Ayokunle Olubode	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 1,252
95	102,506	AA Ashogbon, Adeleke Omodunbi	Adekunle Ajasin University	Food Science	Rank 1,276
96	105,034	TJ Tijani, Jimoh Oladejo	Federal University of Technology, Minna	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,435
97	107,221	IC Iwegbue, Chukwujindu Maxwell Azubuike	Delta State University Nigeria	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,484
98	108,111	FO Fayomi, Ojo S.I.	Bells University of Technology	Materials	Rank 2,426
99	110,134	IE Ibem, Eziyi Offia	University of Nigeria	Building & Construction	Rank 967
100	111,506	SH Salihu, Hamisu Mohammed	Kano Independent Research Centre Trust	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 618
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You are seeing the first 100. 191 more are on the 2025 single-year list.

Ranks 101 to 291The whole list, not only the top 100.

Every year since 2020Single Year and Career Data.

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Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2025

Mexico415 scientists

Hungary345 scientists

Romania294 scientists

Bangladesh286 scientists

Qatar277 scientists

Iraq276 scientists

Explore other countries

Single-year list2025

Ghana70 scientists

Liberia44 scientists

Egypt1,106 scientists

South Africa975 scientists

Ethiopia194 scientists

Morocco134 scientists

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Nigeria are in the 2025 Stanford Top 2% list?

291 scientists affiliated with Nigeria are on the 2025 single-year list, and 142 are on the career-long list.

Which institute in Nigeria has the most Top 2% scientists?

On the 2025 single-year list, University of Nigeria has the most listed scientists from Nigeria, with 19. It is followed by University of Ibadan with 16.

How has the number of Top 2% scientists in Nigeria changed since 2020?

On the single-year list, Nigeria went from 71 scientists in 2020 to 291 in 2025, a change of +309.9%.

What is the difference between the single-year and career-long lists?

The single-year list ranks scientists on the citations their work received in one year. The career-long list ranks them on citations across their whole career. Both lists are published every year, and a scientist can be on one, both or neither.

What is the official source of this data?

The rankings come from the science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators published by Ioannidis et al. in the Elsevier Data Repository, updated every year. TOPSCINET, an independent platform, organises that data by country, year, institute and field, so you can compare and explore it.