Four CoMUI researchers rank among Nigeria’s top six, as 14 researchers from the College feature in the nation’s Top 100 scientists
The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), has recorded another significant milestone in research visibility and scholarly impact, with 14 of its researchers featuring among Nigeria’s Top 100 scientists ranked by total citations in the AD Scientific Index.
The ranking, which measures the cumulative number of citations received by researchers across their scholarly publications, provides an indication of the reach and influence of their research within the global scientific community. AD Scientific Index distinguishes between career citations and citations accumulated within the most recent five-year period.
The performance of CoMUI researchers is particularly notable at the very top of the national ranking. Four researchers affiliated with the College occupy positions among Nigeria’s top six most-cited researchers.
Leading the CoMUI contingent is Professor Mayowa Owolabi, a professor of Neurology who is ranked 1st in Nigeria, followed by Dr Olayinka Ilesanmi, formerly of the Department of Community Medicine, who ranked 3rd; Emeritus Professor Oye Gureje, an Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry who ranked 5th; and Professor Rufus Akinyemi, a professor of Geriatric Neurology and Translational Neuroscience who ranked 6th.
Beyond those identified in the top six, the College of Medicine still has more representation in Nigeria’s Top 100 with Professor A. F. Fagbamigbe, a professor of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics ranked 14th; Dr Yetunde O. John-Akinola of the Department of Health Promotion and Education ranked 28th; Professor A. M. Adeoye of the Department of Medicine ranked 34th ; Professor O. S. Ogah, a professor of Medicine ranked 35th; Emeritus Professor I. F. Adewole, an Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, former Honourable Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 7th Provost of this College of Medicine and the 11th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan and currently Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada ranked 36th; Dr Mojisola M. Oluwasanu of the Department of Health Promotion and Education ranked 37th, Professor E. O. Farombi, a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Toxicology ranked 43rd ; Professor Iruka N. Okeke, an adjunct professor of the College in Medical Microbiology ranked 48th ; Professor A. O. Omigbodun, the 8th Provost of the College of Medicine ranked 76th; and Professor A. O. Adeleye, a professor of Neurological Surgery ranked 85th.
The concentration of our college researchers at the upper end of the ranking and spread through different scientific disciplines is particularly noteworthy. Four CoMUI researchers are among Nigeria’s top six, while 12 are ranked within the nation’s top 50. This reflects the breadth of research excellence across clinical medicine, basic medical sciences and public health within the College.
Professor Mayowa Owolabi
Professor Mayowa Owolabi’s position is especially significant. His research profile encompasses stroke, neurorehabilitation, neurogenetics, non-communicable diseases and population health, areas of substantial importance to global health. The AD Scientific Index identifies him as a leading researcher at the University of Ibadan and places him among the highest-ranked scientists in Nigeria by citation impact. Asides his ranking as 1st nationally, he is also globally ranked 654th, making him top 0.025% and one of the only two scientists throughout Nigeria ranked in the global top 1000.
Dr. Olayinka Ilesanmi’s research in health policy and management, infection prevention and control, and disease prevention and control similarly demonstrates the College’s contribution to research addressing major public-health challenges. The AD Scientific Index classifies him within Epidemiology and Public Health.
Emeritus Professor Oye Gureje
Emeritus Professor Oye Gureje's longstanding contributions to psychiatry and global mental health have established significant international visibility for research from the University of Ibadan, while Professor Rufus Akinyemi is recognised for his work in neurology, neuroscience and ageing medicine.
Professor Rufus Akinyemi
A reflection of the College's research culture
The University of Ibadan had a total of 17 researchers, including the 13th Vice Chancellor, Professor K. O. Adebowale, ranked in the top 100 scientists and the College took a very large share of this representation.
This performance is more than a collection of individual accomplishments. It reflects the depth and diversity of research activity within the College of Medicine and its contribution to the University of Ibadan's national and international research profile.
The College continues to provide an environment in which clinical practice, biomedical research, public health and interdisciplinary scholarship intersect to address health challenges in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
The presence of 14 CoMUI researchers among Nigeria's 100 most-cited scientists therefore represents an important institutional achievement and reinforces the College's longstanding reputation as a major centre of medical education, research and innovation.
The College of Medicine congratulates all the researchers recognised in the ranking and acknowledges the contributions of their research teams, collaborators, students and institutional partners whose collective efforts continue to strengthen the visibility and impact of research from the University of Ibadan.
The College of Medicine remains committed to strengthening this culture of excellence and to ensuring that research undertaken by its scholars continues to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of medicine and health in Nigeria, Africa and the wider world.
Source: AD Scientific Index, Nigeria Top 100 Scientists - Citation Ranking. The ranking is dynamic and subject to periodic updates; the positions reported above should therefore be understood as a snapshot of the ranking at the time of publication. Ranking update 04 October 2026.