JAMB Unveils Top UTME Candidates as Highest Score Hits 372

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the list of the highest-performing candidates in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with top scores ranging from 367 to 372.

The announcement was made during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja, where education stakeholders gathered to deliberate on admission guidelines and reforms for the new academic session.

Leading the national ranking is Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, who scored 372 in the examination. She sat for the exam in Ogun State, hails from Ekiti State and selected University of Lagos as her preferred institution to study MBBS.

Closely behind her is Enwere Kingsley Ikenna from Imo State, who scored 370 after writing the examination in Lagos. He chose Nile University to study Computer Science.

Another standout performer is Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel, who scored 369 and selected Federal University of Technology Akure for Software Engineering.

Several candidates tied at 368 marks, reflecting the highly competitive nature of the examination this year.

Among them are Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi, who chose University of Port Harcourt for Electrical/Electronics Engineering, and Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen from Edo State, who selected University of Benin to study Mechanical Engineering.

Also scoring 368 were Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony, who applied to Obafemi Awolowo University for Computer Engineering, and Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony, who selected Afe Babalola University for Software Engineering.

Other high scorers include Offorkile Michael Okechukwu, Adebisi Eniola Sonari and Umukoro Gift Orhenevovwero, all of whom scored 367.

Adebisi selected Covenant University for Computer Science, while Umukoro chose the University of Lagos for Electrical/Electronics Engineering.

The release of the top candidates’ list comes amid broader reforms introduced by JAMB this year, including the exemption of candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and some Agriculture-related courses from sitting for the UTME.

Education experts say the strong performance of candidates seeking admission into engineering, medicine and technology-related courses reflects the growing interest among Nigerian students in science and innovation-driven careers.

The UTME remains Nigeria’s major entrance examination for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with millions of candidates participating annually.

JAMB has repeatedly emphasised the importance of transparency and merit in the admission process, especially as competition for spaces in top federal universities continues to intensify.

Stakeholders at the policy meeting also discussed admission quotas, institutional capacities and measures aimed at improving the quality of tertiary education across the country.