JOSTUM Ranks 9th In Nigeria, Targets Global Competitiveness

Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) has ranked ninth among participating Nigerian universities in the 2026 UI GreenMetric World University Rankings, placing 1,653rd globally with a total score of 3,327.5 points.

Speaking on the ranking, the vice chancellor, Prof. Isaac Itodo, said it showed the institution’s growing focus on sustainability, institutional visibility and global competitiveness.

Itodo said his administration was committed to positioning JOSTUM to compete nationally and globally in academic excellence, research, innovation, infrastructure, sustainability, partnerships and institutional reputation.

“As vice chancellor of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM), one of the commitments I made to myself and to this great institution was that JOSTUM must not only exist; JOSTUM must compete.

“Our mission is to position the university for global competitiveness in academic excellence, research, innovation, infrastructure, sustainability, visibility, partnerships and institutional reputation,” he said.

The 2026 UI GreenMetric ranking assessed universities based on sustainability indicators, including Setting and Infrastructure, Energy and Climate Change, Waste, Water, Transportation, Education, and Governance and Digitalisation.

JOSTUM scored 560 points in Setting and Infrastructure, 925 in Energy and Climate Change, 425 in Waste, 420 in Water, 535 in Transportation, 212.5 in Education, and 250 in Governance and Digitalisation.

Itodo said the university had recorded significant improvement compared with its 2025 performance, when it ranked 1,660th globally with 1,960 points.

“In 2026, our score increased to 3,327.5 points, while our global position improved to 1,653rd,” he said.

According to him, the improvement reflected increased attention to sustainability, institutional measurement and the systematic documentation of activities and achievements across the university.

“When I assumed office as Vice Chancellor in 2023, I made a commitment to examine our systems, processes and institutional visibility with fresh eyes.

“Quite frankly, I cannot remember when last JOSTUM meaningfully participated in university rankings before my administration came into office. This is a statement that can and should be fact checked,” the Vice Chancellor added.

He also said the university’s objective was not simply to appear on ranking tables but to ensure that its systems, processes and achievements were properly measured, documented and presented within internationally recognised frameworks.

“The question was not simply whether JOSTUM could appear on a ranking table. It was whether the systems, processes and achievements required for global competitiveness were being properly measured, documented and presented within internationally recognised frameworks.

“Where gaps existed, we had to address them and, where necessary, reinvent the wheel.”