2020: The Most Innovative Nigerian Oldest University, Not University of Ibadan

In continuation of our analysis of varied needs and issues in the Nigerian Universities, we have found that the University of Ilorin has been ranked as the most innovative University in the world and Africa than the University of Ibadan. In the previous analysis, we documented that the Nigerian oldest universities have few institutional publications for the years of their establishment.

According to Scimago, an organisation that ranks universities, industries and other components of countries in the world, the University of Ilorin edges the Nigeria’s oldest University, University of Ibadan, out in terms of innovative knowledge development and distribution, scientific publication outputs cited in patents. The organisation also hints, based on its methodology, that the University of Ilorin is ahead of the University of Ibadan due to its strength in number of patent applications (simple families) and percentage of the scientific publication output cited in patents.

Explicating the sources of data used for the rankings, Scimago notes that “the source of information used for the indicators for innovation is PATSTAT database. The EPO’s PATSTAT has become a point of reference in the field of patent intelligence and statistics. It helps you perform sophisticated statistical analyses of bibliographical and legal event patent data.” Our check reveals that the University of Ilorin was established in 1975 with the strategic intents of providing world-class environment for learning, research and community service, and be an international center of excellence in learning, research, probity and service to humanity.

The ranking shows that the University of Ibadan is the second most innovative University in Nigeria within the oldest university parameter [see Exhibit 1]. With its 8^th position, the University of Benin followed the University of Ibadan. Obafemi Awolowo University is in the third position while Ahmadu Bello University occupies fourth position [see Exhibit 1]. In terms of research factors, the University of Ibadan is better than the University of Ilorin [see Exhibit 2].  Collective contribution analysis shows that the 9 Universities only placed Nigeria in 50^th position in the world when one considers research factors and 40^th position in Africa. Analysis also reveals that the Universities’ academic staff, on average, published in 297 Scopus journals.

Exhibit 1: Innovation Positions of the Universities

Exhibit 2: Research Output of the Universities