The University of Jos is now rated the second best university in Nigeria, according to the January 2011 Webometrics world ranking of Universities released on February 3, 2011, one step up from the previous third position.
A statement signed by the Deputy Registrar (Information and Publications), Mr. Steve Otowo said the university also moved up from its previous 66th ranking in Africa to 42nd position. It has also become the 4078th university in the world from the previous 5882nd among the 20 thousand universities evaluated worldwide.
“By this feat, the University has only the University of Ilorin ahead of it while the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University and Ahmadu Bello University follow in that order.
“The major factor responsible for this great improvement is the quality of research and scholarly output of staff and students of the University. This is significant, considering the turbulent social environment of the University”, the statement said.
It described the development as a pointer to the commitment of staff and students of the University to academic excellence, in line with the University’s motto of Discipline and Dedication and a confirmation of her leadership position in the area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
The university had last November, launched an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) which is an online database of materials held by a library or group of libraries becoming the first to go into operation among partnering institutions in Nigeria.
The university was also the first in Nigeria to have an Institutional Repository, a digital collection of research and other intellectual output of an institution. In has, in the last two years moved up steadily on the ranking ladder from a previously obscure position.
