Nigeria Graduates 1,403 Ranking Experts and Unveils African University Ranking System
Africa has achieved a significant breakthrough in higher education evaluation as the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE) celebrated the graduation of 1,403 certified ranking professionals and introduced the continent's inaugural African University Ranking System (AURS). This landmark development was announced by Peter Okebukola, the Director/Facilitator-General of VICBHE, in a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja, marking a decisive move to bolster Africa's standing in the global academic arena.
Ceremony Highlights and Professional Association Launch
The graduation ceremony, which took place on March 31, also saw the formal establishment of the Association of Ranking Professionals (ARP), a new organization designed to provide professional support and standards for ranking practitioners throughout Africa. VICBHE, originally evolving from the Virtual Institute for Higher Education Pedagogy (VIHEP) under the National Universities Commission, has been instrumental in expanding capacity-building initiatives across the continent.
Okebukola emphasized that this event concluded Module 12 of the institute's flagship program, titled Mastering University Rankings for Global Visibility. The intensive training spanned seven weeks and incorporated practical workshops, weekly evaluations, and interactive live lectures. Out of 2,409 participants, approximately 90 percent hailed from Nigerian institutions, with the remainder representing countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.
Comprehensive Training and Global Frameworks
Participants received instruction in major international ranking systems, including Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings, as well as other methodologies like ARWU, Webometrics, Leiden, CWUR, AD Scientific Index, and Clarivate analytics. Okebukola encouraged the graduates, who form the largest cohort of ranking professionals ever trained in Africa, to return to their respective institutions and advocate for enhanced data management, increased global visibility, and evidence-based decision-making processes.
Distinguished Speakers and Award Recipients
The keynote address was delivered by Ellen Hazelkorn, a globally recognized authority on university rankings. Other notable speakers included Jamil Salmi, Olgun Cicek, and N. V. Varghese. Awards were presented to outstanding participants, with Charity Akuadi Okonkwo of the National Open University of Nigeria earning the title of Best Overall Participant. Additional awardees were Ibiyinka Agboola Fuwape from Michael and Cecilia Ibru University and Mohammed Nasiru Maiturare of Ahmadu Bello University.
In a related development, Umar Nouruddeen Bashir, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, was sworn in as the inaugural President of ARP following a continent-wide election process.
Introduction of the African University Ranking System
A key moment of the event was the unveiling of the African University Ranking System (AURS), which aims to address criticisms that existing global ranking systems often overlook African contexts and societal impacts. This new framework is aligned with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and incorporates insights from the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee. Okebukola stated that AURS will serve as a complementary tool to global rankings, offering a more accurate reflection of African universities' performances and acting as a strategic resource for institutional advancement across the continent.
