An Ekiti State-born candidate, Owoeye Jesudunsin, has emerged as the highest scorer in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), recording 372 out of 400 marks.
The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, during the 2026 admission policy meeting.
Oloyede explained that Jesudunsin sat for the examination in Ogun State and selected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as her first choice to study Medicine and Surgery. Her score is three points below the 2025 top mark of 375.
According to JAMB, Ikenna Enwere from Imo State came second with 370 marks. He wrote the exam in Lagos and chose Nile University, Abuja, to study Computer Science.
In third place was Ayomide Bamisile from Ondo State, who scored 369 marks and selected the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) to study Software Engineering.
Several other candidates recorded scores of 368 and 367, with choices spread across institutions such as the University of Ibadan, University of Benin, Obafemi Awolowo University, Pan-Atlantic University, Covenant University, and others.
At the meeting, stakeholders also approved key deadlines for the 2026 admission exercise. Public universities are expected to conclude admissions by October 31, 2026, while private universities must finish by November 30, 2026. Polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education were given until December 31, 2026 to complete their processes.
The JAMB registrar directed institutions to strictly adhere to the approved timelines. He warned that schools failing to meet the deadlines would lose access to candidates for that admission cycle.
Oloyede also announced that JAMB plans to introduce a “Bring Your Own Device” option for the 2027 UTME. Under the proposed system, candidates may use personal devices during the examination, with security measures such as flash drives to prevent malpractice. He said the initiative would reduce costs, improve convenience, and address complaints about technical interruptions.
Additionally, the board approved a four-week window for successful candidates to accept admission offers. Failure to do so may result in withdrawal of the offer and possible ineligibility for further consideration in that session.
The policy decisions, according to JAMB, are aimed at promoting transparency, fairness, and efficiency in the nation’s tertiary admission process.
