Nigeria's Top 2% Scientists 2026

Nigeria has 305 scientists on the 2026 single-year Top 2% list, up 4.8% from 291 in 2025. That places Nigeria 49th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 4 places. University of Nigeria has the most listed scientists (19), followed by University of Ibadan (13).

Single Year

305

+14 (+4.8%) vs 2025

Career Data

164

+22 (+15.5%) vs 2025

World rank by count

#49

down 4 places vs 2025

Institutes

115

+7 (+6.5%) vs 2025

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%

2026+4.8%

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%
2026	305	+4.8%	164	+15.5%

Top 10 institutes in Nigeria

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2026

Show the list

All 305 scientists

Single-year list2026

Showing the 2026 single-year list. Looking for career rankings? See the career-long list

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	851	OP Ozili, Peterson K.	Central Bank of Nigeria	Finance	Rank 4
2	3,054	EJ Egbueri, Johnbosco C.	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 71
3	3,421	OB Olusanya, Bolajoko O.	Centre for Healthy Start Initiative	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 73
4	4,808	OM Owolabi, Mayowa O.	University of Ibadan	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 238
5	4,863	OA Olajire, Abass Abiola	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 104
6	6,015	GO Gureje, Oye	University of Ibadan	Psychiatry	Rank 136
7	7,503	IC Idumah, Christopher Igwe	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Polymers	Rank 40
8	7,896	NS Nathaniel, Solomon Prince	Pan-Atlantic University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 169
9	8,054	AI Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi	Ahmadu Bello University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 173
10	11,228	Iwuozor, Kingsley O.	Nigeria Sugar Institute	Environmental Sciences	Rank 246
11	13,209	Saheed, Yakub Kayode	American University of Nigeria	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 694
12	18,596	OG Oboh, Ganiyu	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 192
13	20,151	Yusuff, Adeyinka Sikiru	Afe Babalola University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 443
14	23,763	Fagbamigbe, Adeniyi Francis	University of Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 391
15	24,711	OO Onwujekwe, Obinna E.	University of Nigeria	Health Policy & Services	Rank 38
16	25,315	FM Folayan, Morenike O.	Obafemi Awolowo University	Dentistry	Rank 98
17	25,396	OE Oguzie, Emeka Emmanuel	Federal University of Technology, Owerri	Materials	Rank 480
18	27,621	OK Onyelowe, Kennedy Chibuzor	Michael Okpara University of Agriculture	Building & Construction	Rank 227
19	28,090	AR Akinyemi, Rufus Olusola	University College Hospital, Ibadan	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 1,274
20	28,292	AK Alaneme, Kenneth Kanayo	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Materials	Rank 556
21	28,410	RL Ridwan, Lanre Ibrahim	University of Lagos	Environmental Sciences	Rank 635
22	28,535	Oke, Ayodeji Emmanuel	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Building & Construction	Rank 239
23	31,189	EC Elendu, Chukwuka	Federal University Teaching Hospital	Arthritis & Rheumatology	Rank 164
24	31,589	AA Adeniyi, Adewale George	University of Ilorin	Environmental Sciences	Rank 692
25	31,983	OI Okeke, Iruka N.	University of Ibadan	Microbiology	Rank 590
26	32,632	Peter, Olumuyiwa James	University of Medical Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 1,584
27	34,415	BO Bello, Olugbenga Solomon	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 743
28	34,598	Salau, Ayodeji Olalekan	Afe Babalola University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 1,689
29	35,116	SA Salisu, Afees A.	Centre for Econometrics and Applied Research	Economics	Rank 485
30	35,599	Edo, Great Iruoghene	Southern Delta University, Ozoro	Food Science	Rank 427
31	36,550	RA Rafindadi, Abdulkadir Abdulrashid	Usmanu Danfodiyo University	Energy	Rank 1,034
32	36,737	PL Popoola, L. T.	Lead City University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 795
33	38,112	Adegoke, Kayode Adesina	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 830
34	41,807	OE Okeke, Emmanuel Sunday	University of Nigeria	Environmental Sciences	Rank 911
35	43,915	AS Akinnawo, Solomon Oluwaseun	Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 956
36	46,179	Igwegbe, Chinenye Adaobi	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,014
37	47,304	FE Farombi, Ebenezer Olatunde	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	Toxicology	Rank 167
38	48,437	EP Ejegwa, Paul Augustine	Federal University of Health Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 2,276
39	49,753	EE Ezugwu, Emmanuel Okechukwu	Air Force Institute of Technology	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 474
40	49,925	ET Egbosiuba, Titus Chinedu	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University	Chemical Engineering	Rank 390
41	50,056	Ilesanmi, Olayinka Stephen	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 753
42	50,426	Ikeuba, Alexander I.	University of Calabar	Materials	Rank 1,062
43	51,307	AI Animasaun, Isaac Lare	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 494
44	51,860	AA Adewuyi, Adewale A.	Redeemer‘s University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,130
45	52,645	AA Ayanlade, Ayansina	Obafemi Awolowo University	Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences	Rank 1,000
46	55,569	Salawu, Sulyman Olakunle	Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 537
47	55,799	LA Lawal, Abiodun Ismail	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 614
48	55,961	AC Adetunji, Charles O.	Edo University Iyamho	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,238
49	56,493	AF Ajide, Folorunsho M.	University of Ilorin	Economics	Rank 756
50	56,729	OK Okunade, Kehinde Sharafadeen	College of Medicine, University of Lagos	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 1,727
51	58,311	LA Lawal, Abdulazeez T.	Fountain University	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 314
52	59,043	AO Adekiya, O. Aruna	Bowen University	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 429
53	60,509	OA Obalalu, Adebowale Martins	Kwara State University	Energy	Rank 1,785
54	63,065	SO Sunday, O. Oyedepo	Bells University of Technology	Energy	Rank 1,863
55	64,230	Ukwaja, Kingsley Nnanna	Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 923
56	65,090	LA Lateef, A.	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,033
57	65,622	AJ Agushaka, Jeffrey Ovre	Federal University, Lafia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 3,089
58	66,548	AK Ajide, Kazeem Bello	University of Lagos	Economics	Rank 851
59	67,890	AT Ayodele, Temitope Raphael	University of Ibadan	Energy	Rank 2,023
60	68,145	Awogbemi, Omojola	Ekiti State University	Energy	Rank 2,032
61	68,475	BM Bello, Mufutau Opeyemi	University of Ilorin	Energy	Rank 2,046
62	69,397	FO Fayomi, Ojo S.I.	Bells University of Technology	Materials	Rank 1,544
63	69,863	OI Otache, Innocent	Federal Polytechnic, Idah	Business & Management	Rank 1,661
64	70,970	Enyoh, Christian Ebere	Imo State University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,589
65	71,764	AA Adefegha, Adeniyi S.	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 919
66	72,425	HL Hitler, Louis	University of Calabar	Chemical Physics	Rank 836
67	73,890	Lawal, Olayide Samuel	Federal University, Oye-Ekiti	Food Science	Rank 953
68	74,078	ZY Zakariya, Yusuf F.	Ahmadu Bello University	Education	Rank 1,028
69	75,346	AA Abdullahi, Auwal S.	Bayero University	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 3,204
70	76,927	EF Ezema, Fabian Ifeanyichukwu	University of Nigeria	Applied Physics	Rank 1,391
71	78,102	EO Evans, Olaniyi	Pan-Atlantic University	Business & Management	Rank 1,816
72	78,385	OA Oluranti Agboola, Oluranti S.	Covenant University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 745
73	78,681	ON Oladoja, Nurudeen Abiola	AdekunleAjasin University	Chemical Engineering	Rank 669
74	79,317	OF Okonofua, Friday Ebhodaghe	African Journal of Reproductive Health	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 409
75	81,681	Abiodun, Oludare Isaac	University of Abuja	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 3,806
76	81,744	AK Akpomie, Kovo Godfrey	University of Nigeria	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,830
77	82,477	OC Okoye, Charles Obinwanne	University of Nigeria	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,852
78	83,298	Ogoina, Dimie	Bayelsa Medical University	Tropical Medicine	Rank 72
79	84,305	AN Aderinto, Nicholas Oluwaseyi	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 3,529
80	86,253	AA Ashogbon, Adeleke Omodunbi	Adekunle Ajasin University	Food Science	Rank 1,138
81	86,297	LR Loto, Roland Tolulope	Covenant University	Materials	Rank 1,961
82	86,354	OL Olatomiwa, Lanre Joseph	Federal University of Technology, Minna	Energy	Rank 2,605
83	86,752	AO Adegun, Olumuyiwa Bayode	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Urban & Regional Planning	Rank 270
84	87,282	UC Uneke, Chigozie Jesse	African Institute of Health Policy and Health Systems	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 1,196
85	88,505	DS Dahunsi, Samuel Olatunde	Bowen University	Energy	Rank 2,690
86	89,967	HA Habib, Abdulrazaq Garba	Bayero University	Tropical Medicine	Rank 83
87	90,843	Akhigbe, Roland Eghoghosoa	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 483
88	93,427	ST Sulaıman, Tukur Abdulkadir	Federal University Dutse	General Physics	Rank 551
89	94,327	AS Ajagbe, Sunday Adeola	First Technical University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 4,394
90	95,133	TJ Tijani, Jimoh Oladejo	Federal University of Technology, Minna	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,179
91	96,546	OS Olatunji, Sunday Olusanya	Adekunle Ajasin University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 4,488
92	97,240	AA Adetayo, Adebowale Jeremy	Babcock University	Information & Library Sciences	Rank 80
93	99,469	EE Emenike, Ebuka Chizitere	University of Ilorin	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,293
94	99,673	IE Igbinosa, Etinosa O.	University of Benin	Microbiology	Rank 1,870
95	100,158	Attama Anthony, A. Amaechi	University of Nigeria	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 682
96	100,300	DY Daniel, Yahaya Shagaiya	Kaduna State University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 958
97	100,378	WM Welcome, Menizibeya Osain	Nile University of Nigeria	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 685
98	101,086	FT Falola, Toyin	Nigerian Academy of Letters	Cultural Studies	Rank 38
99	101,895	MS Mustapha, Saheed	Federal University of Technology, Minna	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,341
100	103,279	IS Izah, Sylvester Chibueze	Bayelsa Medical University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,380
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You are seeing the first 100. 205 more are on the 2026 single-year list.

Ranks 101 to 305The 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 list2026

Romania340 scientists

Jordan312 scientists

Qatar311 scientists

Chile288 scientists

Vietnam280 scientists

Indonesia272 scientists

Explore other countries

Single-year list2026

Ghana90 scientists

Liberia43 scientists

Egypt1,307 scientists

South Africa1,033 scientists

Ethiopia236 scientists

Morocco185 scientists

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Nigeria are in the 2026 Stanford Top 2% list?

305 scientists affiliated with Nigeria are on the 2026 single-year list, and 164 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2026 single-year list, University of Nigeria has the most listed scientists from Nigeria, with 19. It is followed by University of Ibadan with 13.

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 305 in 2026, a change of +329.6%.

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.