The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the list of top-performing candidates in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The list was unveiled during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Monday.
VDCInsights reports that at the meeting it was agreed that the cut-off mark for this year’s UTME will be 150, Colleges of Nursing 140, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education was set at 100.
These are minimum marks for application,however individual institutions (especially top-tier universities) can set higher departmental cut-off marks.
Some institutions, such as the University of Ilorin and University of Abuja, historically set their minimum benchmarks around 180 or higher.
The 2025 policy meeting approved a 60:40 admission ratio for science/arts in conventional universities, and 80:20 for specialized institutions
Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin emerged as the highest scorer nationwide after recording 372 out of the maximum 400 points in the examination.
Full List
Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin
State of Origin: Ekiti
UTME Score: 372
Institution of choice: UNILAG
Course of choice: MBSS
Enwere Kingsley Ikenna
State of Origin: Imo
UTME Score: 370
Institution of choice: NILE
Course of choice: Computer Science
Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel
State of Origin: Ondo
UTME Score: 369
Institution of choice: FUTA
Course of choice: Software Engineering
Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin
State of Origin: Oyo
UTME Score: 368
Institution of choice: Pan-Atlantic
Course of choice: Mechatronics Engineering
Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi
State of Origin: Imo
UTME Score: 368
Institution of choice: UNIPORT
Course of choice: Electrical/Electronics Engineering
Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen
State of Origin: Edo
UTME Score: 368
Institution of choice: UNIBEN
Course of choice: Mechanical Engineering
Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony
State of Origin: Osun
UTME Score: 368
Institution of choice: OAU
Course of choice: Computer Engineering
Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony
State of Origin: Anambra
UTME Score: 368
Institution of choice: ABUAD
Course of choice: Software Engineering
Offorkile Michael Okechukwu
State of Origin: Abia
UTME Score: 367
Course of choice: Computer Science
Adebisi Eniola Sonari
State of Origin: Ogun
Institution of choice: Covenant University
Course of choice: Computer Science
Score: 367
Umukoro Gift Orhenevovwero
State of Origin: Delta
Institution of choice: University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Course of choice: Electrical/Electronics Engineering
Score: 367
…From 2013 to 2026, JAMB Top Scorers
Here is the complete official record of UTME top scorers since 2013, as published by JAMB.
While Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin is the shining light for all those who sat for the UTME this year, Okeke Chinedu Christian remains highest top scorer in the UTME since its inception in 2013.
The Anambra born student’s all time record is 374 recorded in 2025 UTME
JAMB’s official press conference document, delivered by Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede on May 14, 2025, he was listed as the highest recorded since the computer-based test began in 2013. The Registrar described it as “the best highest in the last one and half decades.”
In 2024, there were three of them with the highest score of 367, a rare triple tie. They are Olowu Joseph Oluwasijibomi (Ondo), Alayande David (Oyo) & Orukpe Joel Ehijele (Edo)
Their registration numbers — 202440343695GA, 202440097040EF, and 202440089418GA — are confirmed in JAMB’s official records.
It was a year when only 0.46 per cent of the 1.8 million candidates who sat the examination scored 300 and above.
In 2023, Umeh Kamsiyochukwu Nkechinyere from Anambra State, and a student of Deeper Life High School in Mowe, Ogun State, with (Reg: 202330325356GA) scored 360 to emerge the highest UTME candidate.
Her achievement attracted national celebration, and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo offered her a full scholarship.
Adebayo Eyimofe Oluwatofunmi from Ekiti State blazed the trail in 2022 with a score of 362 with (Reg: 202211075576JA) .
2021, was the year of Monwuba Chibuzo Chibuikem with a score of 358
(Reg: 10054281ID) He later went on to study electrical, electronics and communications engineering at the University of South Florida in the United States.
Maduafokwa Egoagwuagwu Agnes from Anambra State in 2020 led the pack with 365 with (Reg: 21398306DF), a graduate of Louisville Girls High School in Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State.
A score stood as the highest in the CBT era until 2025. She went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Duke University in the United States under the institution’s Karsh International Scholarship.
In 2019, Ezeunala Ekene Franklin (Reg: 96630270JC) led the class of 2019 with a score of 347 at just 15 years old — making him one of the youngest top scorers in the examination’s history. He was a graduate of Meiran Community Senior High School, Lagos.
Galadima Israel Zakari (Reg: 86034528DA) from Borno was the hero of 2018 with a score of 364
His result, confirmed in JAMB’s official records, ranks among the strongest performances in the examination’s CBT history.
Akingbulugbe Precious Ayomide (Reg: 75902784CB) emerged as the highest UTME scorer in 2017 with 353. Like the 2018 result, this performance was not widely publicised at the time but is confirmed in JAMB’s official historical records presented at the May 2025 press conference.
Two candidates tied for the top position in 2016 with identical scores of 359. Akenbor Adesuwa Osarugue (Reg: 65290500BI) from Edo and Anonye Victory Emenike (Reg: 65740193BF) shared the honours in 2016 with a score of 359.
Adesuwa went on to study Medicine at UNIBEN, while Anonye pursued Medicine and Surgery at the University of Jos.
In 2015 Ilukwe Lottachukwu Geraldine (Reg: 55395199EB) from Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja topped the 2015 UTME with 332. She went on to study law at the London School of Economics and Political Science and is now a practising lawyer and consultant in the United Kingdom.
Onomejoh Princewill (Reg: 47049891HB) scored 299 to lead all candidates in the 2014 UTME. He went on to study at the University of Benin, graduating with a first-class degree and emerging as the best student in his faculty.
In 2013, the set that pioneered the CBT, Olise Israel Chukwunalu (Reg: 37207292AB) scored 299 in the maiden computer-based UTME in 2013.
He gained admission to the University of Ibadan to study Medicine and Surgery and has since qualified as a medical doctor.
…Cut Off Marks For Universities
At the meeting in Abuja, institutions’ minimum admissible cut off marks beyond the JAMB UTME cut off of 150 was displayed for journalists to see during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Monday with Pan-Atlantic University adopting 220, the highest minimum score on the list.
Several top institutions, including Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria and Covenant University set their cut off marks at 200 .
Lagos State University and Lagos State University of Science and Technology fixed 195, while Lagos State University of Education adopted 185.
JAMB explained that the approved figures represent the minimum thresholds for admission consideration, adding that institutions are permitted to set higher requirements for competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, Pharmacy and Engineering.
FULL LIST
Pan-Atlantic University — 220
Air Force Institute of Technology — 200
Covenant University — 200
Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences — 200
Obafemi Awolowo University — 200
University of Benin — 200
University of Ibadan — 200
University of Lagos — 200
University of Nigeria — 200
Lagos State University of Science and Technology — 195
Lagos State University — 195
Lagos State University of Education — 185
Afe Babalola University — 180
Ahmadu Bello University — 180
Federal University of Health Sciences — 180
Nigeria Police Academy — 180
Nigerian University of Technology and Management — 180
Shanahan University — 180
University of Abuja — 180
University of Ilorin — 180
University of Jos — 170
Augustine University — 170
Babcock University — 170
Federal University of Applied Sciences — 170
Federal University — 170
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology — 170
Nasarawa State University — 170
BITS University — 170
Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University — 160
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University — 160
Admiralty University of Nigeria — 160
African Aviation and Aerospace University — 160
Ajayi Crowther University — 160
Al-Hikmah University — 160
Bamidele Olumilua University — 160
Bayero University Kano — 160
Bells University of Technology — 160
Caleb University — 160
Chrisland University — 160
Dominion University — 160
Emmanuel Alayande University of Education — 160
Federal University of Agriculture — 160
Federal University of Education — 160
Federal University of Health Sciences — 160
Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences — 160
Federal University of Technology — 160
First Technical University — 160
Imo State University — 160
Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management — 160
Karl Kumm University — 160
Kwara State University — 160
Landmark University — 160
Lead City University — 160
Modibbo Adama University — 160
Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 160
Olabisi Onabanjo University — 160
Osun State University — 160
Plateau State University — 160
Redeemer’s University — 160
Summit University — 160
Tai Solarin University of Education — 160
Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery — 160
University of Ilesa — 160
AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University — 150
Adamawa State University — 150
Adeleke University — 150
African School of Economics — 150
