ATBU Leads National Innovation Rankings, Earns Praise from Stakeholders
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) in Bauchi has been hailed by academics and education stakeholders after being ranked Nigeria’s most innovative university in the 2025 SCImago Institutions Rankings. The accolade highlights the institution’s strengths in research, innovation and impact among Nigerian universities.
The SCImago Rankings, a respected global evaluation system that assesses universities and research institutions on research output, innovation performance and societal influence, placed ATBU first in Innovation, third in Research, and sixth overall among universities in the country.
In an official statement on Wednesday, ATBU’s management explained that the rankings reflect measurable outcomes in knowledge creation, technology transfer and real‑world applications. The Director of Information and Public Relations, Zailani Bappa, said the results are a strong endorsement of the university’s focus on science and technology.
Reacting to the achievement, Dr. Abubakar Usman, a senior academic affiliated with the university, said the recognition places ATBU firmly on Nigeria’s national innovation map and reinforces the role of technology‑focused institutions in driving solutions for societal challenges. He also noted that the ranking disproves lingering misconceptions about the academic depth and influence of technology‑based universities.
Stakeholders described the performance as “a major boost” for tech‑oriented higher education in Nigeria, where institutions often compete for national and global relevance. They highlighted that the strong showing across innovation, research and societal impact pillars underscores ATBU’s capacity to translate ideas into practical benefits for industry and community development.
The accolade comes amid ongoing discussions about maintaining ATBU’s technological mandate rather than converting it into a conventional university, with many alumni and staff arguing that its global recognition strengthens the case for preserving its specialised focus.
The recognition is expected to enhance ATBU’s appeal to prospective students, researchers and development partners as it continues to build on its strengths in technology, engineering and research excellence.