The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has unveiled the top-performing candidates in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with three candidates achieving the highest score of 367 out of a possible 400.
JAMB Registrar Professor Is-haq Oloyede presented the list during an ongoing admission policy meeting in Abuja, on Thursday. The announcement comes as part of JAMB’s efforts to recognize outstanding academic achievement and maintain transparency in the admissions process.
According to Professor Oloyede, the top scorers are:
1. Olowu Joseph Oluwasijibomi – 367
2. Alayande David – 367
3. Orukpe Joel Ehijele – 367
Four candidates scored 365:
4. Emmanuel Jeremiah Jewel
5. Essiet Etini Joshua
6. Ezenwoko Zara Valerie
7. Umoh Joshua Augustine
The remaining top scorers are:
8. Mamudu Abdulrahman – 364
9. Adeleke Abdulbasit Adekunle – 363
10. Echem Victor Prosper – 363
11. Etute Emmanuel Ehihomen – 363
12. Keke Jedidiah Chidiebube – 363
13. Adesanya Daniel Oluwatimileyin – 363
Professor Oloyede provided context for these exceptional results, stating, “Only 8,401, representing 0.5 per cent of candidates, scored above 300 in the examination. 77,070, representing 4.2 per cent, scored 250 and above, and 439,974, representing 24 per cent, scored 200 and above.”
The UTME is a crucial step in the Nigerian university admissions process. However, high UTME scores alone do not guarantee admission. Candidates must also possess senior school certificate examination (SSCE) results with credits in five subjects relevant to their chosen courses of study, including English Language and Mathematics.
In a related development, the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has issued a directive to JAMB and tertiary institutions to admit only candidates who have reached the minimum age of 18. The minister emphasized that this directive aligns with existing Nigerian education policy.
He said”We are simply reiterating what the Nigerian law governing the nation’s education policy states.”
“The policy recommends that children should enroll for pre-primary education at age five and attend primary education for another six years before proceeding to junior secondary school for three years, and another three years in senior secondary school,” he added
This new age requirement has sparked debate among stakeholders, with many pointing out that a significant percentage of UTME candidates are currently under 18.
The implementation of this directive may face challenges, as public tertiary institutions have previously admitted 16-year-old candidates, while some private institutions have enrolled even younger students.
