Nigeria's Top 2% Scientists 2026: Career-Long List

Nigeria has 164 scientists on the 2026 career-long Top 2% list, up 15.5% from 142 in 2025. That places Nigeria 49th in the world by number of listed scientists. University of Ibadan has the most listed scientists (14), followed by University of Nigeria (13).

Single Year

305

+14 (+4.8%) vs 2025

Career Data

164

+22 (+15.5%) vs 2025

World rank by count

#49

No change vs 2025

Institutes

+11 (+17.2%) vs 2025

Scientists in Nigeria on the list, by year

The career-long count has more than tripled since 2020.

Career-long list, change on the previous year

2021+73.8%

2022+19.2%

2023+13.8%

2024+18.2%

2025+21.4%

2026+15.5%

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

Career-long list2026

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All 164 scientists

Career-long list2026

Showing the 2026 career-long list. Looking for single-year rankings? See the single-year 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	7,275	GO Gureje, Oye	University of Ibadan	Psychiatry	Rank 211
2	14,035	OB Olusanya, Bolajoko O.	Centre for Healthy Start Initiative	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 221
3	20,404	OG Oboh, Ganiyu	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 88
4	25,151	OE Oguzie, Emeka Emmanuel	Federal University of Technology, Owerri	Materials	Rank 316
5	27,410	OA Olajire, Abass Abiola	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 189
6	31,674	OM Owolabi, Mayowa O.	University of Ibadan	Neurology & Neurosurgery	Rank 2,256
7	32,808	FE Farombi, Ebenezer Olatunde	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	Toxicology	Rank 130
8	33,505	OP Ozili, Peterson K.	Central Bank of Nigeria	Finance	Rank 59
9	37,248	EE Ezugwu, Emmanuel Okechukwu	Air Force Institute of Technology	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 245
10	53,518	EC Enwemeka, Chukuka Samuel	James Hope University	Dermatology & Venereal Diseases	Rank 319
11	55,686	OO Onwujekwe, Obinna E.	University of Nigeria	Health Policy & Services	Rank 134
12	65,918	NS Nathaniel, Solomon Prince	Pan-Atlantic University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 501
13	65,955	EJ Egbueri, Johnbosco C.	Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 503
14	69,536	OI Okeke, Iruka N.	University of Ibadan	Microbiology	Rank 1,725
15	69,907	SH Salihu, Hamisu Mohammed	Kano Independent Research Centre Trust	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 659
16	71,673	Lawal, Olayide Samuel	Federal University, Oye-Ekiti	Food Science	Rank 405
17	75,261	UC Uneke, Chigozie Jesse	African Institute of Health Policy and Health Systems	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 959
18	76,013	OF Okonofua, Friday Ebhodaghe	African Journal of Reproductive Health	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine	Rank 717
19	81,472	CC Chidume, Charles Ejike	African University of Science and Technology	General Mathematics	Rank 389
20	84,143	AA Adewuya, Abiodun Olugbenga	Lagos State University	Psychiatry	Rank 1,506
21	90,895	AE Ameh, Emmanuel A.	National Hospital, Abuja	Pediatrics	Rank 471
22	95,983	MC Madu, Christian Ndubuisi	University of Nigeria	Business & Management	Rank 1,090
23	97,079	AI Abubakar, Ismaila Rimi	Ahmadu Bello University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 765
24	99,394	AI Animasaun, Isaac Lare	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 702
25	104,904	FM Folayan, Morenike O.	Obafemi Awolowo University	Dentistry	Rank 587
26	110,428	IC Idumah, Christopher Igwe	Nnamdi Azikiwe University	Polymers	Rank 987
27	113,560	AK Alaneme, Kenneth Kanayo	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Materials	Rank 1,602
28	114,080	BO Bello, Olugbenga Solomon	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Environmental Sciences	Rank 933
29	117,454	OB Osuntokun, Benjamin O.	University College Hospital, Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 1,470
30	120,135	OS Obaro, Stephen K.	International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria (IFAIN)	Microbiology	Rank 2,977
31	124,895	ON Oladoja, Nurudeen Abiola	AdekunleAjasin University	Chemical Engineering	Rank 608
32	126,519	NS Niermeyer, Susan N.	University of Nigeria	Pediatrics	Rank 681
33	136,873	IM Iwu, Maurice M.	Bioresources Institute of Nigeria	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 493
34	137,998	LC Loto, Cleophas Akintoye	Covenant University	Materials	Rank 1,972
35	139,022	SO Sunday, O. Oyedepo	Bells University of Technology	Energy	Rank 2,112
36	143,794	ST Sulaıman, Tukur Abdulkadir	Federal University Dutse	General Physics	Rank 914
37	143,826	Ukwaja, Kingsley Nnanna	Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 1,819
38	146,015	IC Iwegbue, Chukwujindu Maxwell Azubuike	Delta State University Nigeria	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,253
39	149,653	MJ Mbagwu, Joe S.C.	University of Nigeria	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 838
40	150,125	LR Loto, Roland Tolulope	Covenant University	Materials	Rank 2,160
41	152,379	KB Kang, Biau T.	International Institute of Tropical Agriculture	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 862
42	153,665	AA Adefegha, Adeniyi S.	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 943
43	157,577	LA Lateef, A.	Ladoke Akintola University of Technology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 2,320
44	158,050	MA Menkir, Abebe	International Institute of Tropical Agriculture	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 2,327
45	158,591	AA Adaramoye, A. O.	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	Toxicology	Rank 729
46	160,030	SA Sowunmi, Akintunde	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	Tropical Medicine	Rank 366
47	166,678	Yusuff, Adeyinka Sikiru	Afe Babalola University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,461
48	168,962	HA Habib, Abdulrazaq Garba	Bayero University	Tropical Medicine	Rank 386
49	171,484	LA Lawal, Abdulazeez T.	Fountain University	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 1,329
50	177,291	TO Tomori, Oyewale	Redeemer‘s University	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 2,275
51	181,474	Ilesanmi, Olayinka Stephen	College of Medicine, University of Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 2,332
52	185,200	SD Smith, Douglas K.(Skip)	American University of Nigeria	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	Rank 1,661
53	185,286	OJ Ogbonna, James Chukwuma	State University of Medical and Applied Sciences	Biotechnology	Rank 595
54	187,819	OF Okieimen, Felix Ebhodaghe	University of Benin	Polymers	Rank 1,686
55	187,918	JB Jha, Basant Kumar	Ahmadu Bello University	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,417
56	188,289	Fagbamigbe, Adeniyi Francis	University of Ibadan	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 2,411
57	188,560	IE Igbinosa, Etinosa O.	University of Benin	Microbiology	Rank 4,471
58	190,544	Ogoina, Dimie	Bayelsa Medical University	Tropical Medicine	Rank 430
59	191,766	SN Sanginga, Ntenranya	International Institute of Tropical Agriculture	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 1,120
60	192,992	Attama Anthony, A. Amaechi	University of Nigeria	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 1,800
61	195,591	PL Popoola, L. T.	Lead City University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,793
62	195,816	SA Sanni, Abiodun Isiaka	University of Ibadan	Food Science	Rank 1,235
63	197,529	AS Abarikwu, Sunny Okechukwu	University of Port Harcourt	Toxicology	Rank 931
64	198,450	Iwuozor, Kingsley O.	Nigeria Sugar Institute	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,830
65	200,185	OO Ohunakin, Olayinka Soledayo	Covenant University	Energy	Rank 3,201
66	202,659	AA Alyokhin, Andrei V.	University of Benin	Entomology	Rank 655
67	203,603	AJ Agbenin, John O.	Federal University, Oye-Ekiti	Agronomy & Agriculture	Rank 1,199
68	205,958	AP Akah, Peter Achunike	University of Nigeria	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 828
69	206,611	IE Ibem, Eziyi Offia	University of Nigeria	Building & Construction	Rank 662
70	206,855	AW Adeyemo, Wasiu Lanre	University of Lagos	Dentistry	Rank 1,258
71	209,186	EA Edet, Aniekan	University of Calabar	Environmental Engineering	Rank 1,128
72	212,058	FO Fagbenro, Oyedapo Adewale	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Fisheries	Rank 625
73	214,005	AD Akinyele, Daniel Oluwaseun	Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology	Energy	Rank 3,452
74	216,693	TA Taiwo, Adewale Matthew	Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,037
75	218,498	OM Osilike, Micah Okwuchukwu	University of Nigeria	General Mathematics	Rank 1,503
76	221,592	RA Rafindadi, Abdulkadir Abdulrashid	Usmanu Danfodiyo University	Energy	Rank 3,600
77	226,963	EF Ezema, Fabian Ifeanyichukwu	University of Nigeria	Applied Physics	Rank 5,985
78	227,106	AT Ayodele, Temitope Raphael	University of Ibadan	Energy	Rank 3,697
79	228,558	FT Falola, Toyin	Nigerian Academy of Letters	Cultural Studies	Rank 100
80	230,531	AI Atadashi, I. M.	Adamawa State University, Mubi	Energy	Rank 3,755
81	231,046	IU Ishiaku, Umaru Semo	Ahmadu Bello University	Polymers	Rank 2,085
82	239,513	AA Adeneye, Adejuwon Adewale	Lagos State University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1,029
83	243,667	NO Nwafor, O. M.I.	Federal University of Technology, Owerri	Energy	Rank 4,021
84	243,693	AK Adebowale, Kayode Oyebode	University of Ibadan	Food Science	Rank 1,604
85	244,560	OK Osinubi, Kolawole Juwonlo M.	Ahmadu Bello University	Geological & Geomatics Engineering	Rank 1,312
86	247,243	NI Nnorom, Innocent C.	Abia State University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,348
87	247,602	MM Meremikwu, Martin Madu	University of Calabar	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 3,225
88	251,620	AE Adekeye, Emmanuel Oladepo	Etomie Oral and Maxillofacial Specialist Hospital	Dentistry	Rank 1,578
89	251,741	AA Adewuyi, Adewale A.	Redeemer‘s University	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,392
90	252,135	AS Atawodi, Sunday Ene Ojo	Ahmadu Bello University	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,816
91	253,217	AE Adeyeye, Emmanuel Ilesanmi	Ekiti State University	Food Science	Rank 1,672
92	256,292	OC Okoye, Chukwuemeka Madubuko Ijeoma	University of Nigeria	General Physics	Rank 1,599
93	257,005	OS Olatunji, Sunday Olusanya	Adekunle Ajasin University	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 6,082
94	258,520	FO Fayomi, Ojo S.I.	Bells University of Technology	Materials	Rank 3,987
95	259,554	OK Onyelowe, Kennedy Chibuzor	Michael Okpara University of Agriculture	Building & Construction	Rank 873
96	260,120	Dahunsi, Samuel Olatunde	Bowen University	Energy	Rank 4,381
97	263,176	OL Olatomiwa, Lanre Joseph	Federal University of Technology, Minna	Energy	Rank 4,451
98	264,290	AV Aletor, Valentine Ayobore	Federal University of Technology, Akure	Food Science	Rank 1,763
99	270,472	RL Ridwan, Lanre Ibrahim	University of Lagos	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,624
100	270,897	IA Ikot, Akpan Ndem	University of Port Harcourt	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 4,070
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You are seeing the first 100. 64 more are on the 2026 career-long list.

Ranks 101 to 164The whole list, not only the top 100.

Every year since 2020Single Year and Career Data.

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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2026

Chile251 scientists

Slovenia242 scientists

Qatar197 scientists

Ukraine144 scientists

Macau135 scientists

Jordan128 scientists

Explore other countries

Career-long list2026

Liberia48 scientists

Ghana42 scientists

South Africa963 scientists

Egypt676 scientists

Morocco63 scientists

Kenya55 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 career-long list, University of Ibadan has the most listed scientists from Nigeria, with 14. It is followed by University of Nigeria with 13.

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

On the career-long list, Nigeria went from 42 scientists in 2020 to 164 in 2026, a change of +290.5%.

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.