UNILAG Medicine Aspirant Tops 2026 UTME with 372 as JAMB Retains 150 University Cut-Off

Nigeria’s education sector recorded another remarkable milestone as a female candidate, Owoeye Jesudunsin, emerged as the highest scorer in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scoring an outstanding 372 out of 400.

The achievement was announced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board during its 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Monday.

Jesudunsin, who hails from Ekiti State and sat for the examination in Ogun State, applied to study Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at University of Lagos, one of Nigeria’s most competitive universities for medical studies.

 Top 2026 UTME Candidates Revealed

Following closely behind the top scorer was Enwere Ikenna from Imo State, who scored 370 and applied to study Computer Science at Nile University of Nigeria.

In third place was Bamisile Emmanuel from Ondo State with 369 marks. He applied to study Software Engineering at Federal University of Technology Akure.

Several other brilliant candidates scored between 367 and 368, showcasing the growing academic competitiveness among Nigerian students.

Among them are:

* Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin — applied to Pan-Atlantic University for Mechatronics Engineering.

* Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi — selected University of Port Harcourt for Electrical/Electronics Engineering.

* Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen — applied to University of Benin for Mechanical Engineering.

* Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony — chose Obafemi Awolowo University for Computer Engineering.

* Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony — applied to Afe Babalola University for Software Engineering.

Others who also made the elite list with 367 marks include Offorkile Michael Okechukwu, Adebisi Eniola Sonari, and Umukoro Gift Orhenevovwero.

According to JAMB, more than two million candidates participated in the 2026 UTME nationwide, underscoring the scale and competitiveness of tertiary admissions in Nigeria.

Nigerian Universities Retain 150 Admission Benchmark

At the same policy meeting, stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector agreed to retain 150 as the minimum admission benchmark for universities for the 2025/2026 admission exercise.

The approved benchmarks are:

* Universities — 150

* Polytechnics — 100

* Colleges of Education — 100

* Colleges of Nursing — 150

Although institutions are free to set higher cut-off marks based on their admission standards, no institution is permitted to admit candidates below the national benchmark.

The benchmark decision followed extensive deliberations involving vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, and education stakeholders from across the country.

JAMB Announces Admission Deadlines

The board also unveiled deadlines for completing admissions into tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The timelines are as follows:

* Public universities — on or before October 31, 2026

* Private universities — on or before November 30, 2026

* Polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education  not later than December 31, 2026

JAMB warned institutions that fail to complete admissions within the stipulated period risk losing access to candidates on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

The board also introduced a four-week grace period for candidates to accept admission offers after approval. Candidates who fail to accept admissions within the period may forfeit their offers and risk being classified under the “refusal to accept” category.

 FG Declares Illegal Admissions Invalid

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, reiterated that all admissions conducted outside the CAPS platform are illegal and would not be recognised by the Federal Government.

He warned institutions against operating parallel admission systems and stated that violators could face sanctions, including suspension of operating licences.

According to the minister, the government remains committed to restoring transparency, fairness, and integrity to Nigeria’s admission process.

Federal Government Retains 16 Years Minimum Admission Age

The Federal Government also confirmed that 16 years remains the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions.

Alausa explained that the decision followed extensive consultations and policy reviews aimed at balancing academic readiness with inclusivity.

However, he noted that exceptionally gifted students could still be considered under strictly regulated guidelines.

 NCE Candidates Exempted from UTME

In a major policy shift, the minister announced that candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes would no longer need to sit for the UTME, provided they possess at least four credit passes.

The exemption also applies to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in agriculture and related non-technology fields.

Despite the exemption, affected candidates must still register with JAMB for screening and processing through CAPS.

 FG Pushes Digital Education Reforms

The Federal Government further disclosed plans to deepen educational reforms across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

According to Alausa, the reforms focus on:

* Improved access to higher education

* Better governance and accountability

* Expansion of digital learning

* Wider adoption of computer-based testing

* Integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into academic curricula

He added that the government would continue strengthening support systems for persons living with disabilities while improving transparency across tertiary institutions nationwide.

 A New Era of Academic Excellence

The emergence of Owoeye Jesudunsin as the highest UTME scorer has sparked admiration nationwide and reflects the growing determination among Nigerian students to excel academically despite increasing competition.

Her outstanding performance, alongside the achievements of other top candidates, highlights the immense talent within Nigeria’s education system and sets a high standard for future UTME candidates.