A student from Ibadan, Osokoya Foreoluwahan John, has achieved an impressive score of 365 out of 400 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). His father, Taiwo Osokoya, confirmed this to Legit.ng while sharing the result. The teenager has now secured admission to study Mechatronics Engineering at Ontario Tech University in Canada.
Exceptional Academic Performance
Osokoya Foreoluwahan John has consistently demonstrated outstanding academic ability. He scored 335 in the 2025 UTME and later advanced to the final phase of a screening exercise at the University of Lagos, where he was interviewed by JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede and his team. However, he did not make the final list due to his age. According to JAMB policy, candidates below the age of 16 are not eligible for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions unless they display exceptional brilliance by scoring at least 320 in UTME and meeting additional requirements.
Valedictorian with Strong Academic Record
Osokoya was the overall best graduating student and valedictorian of Cenfex High School, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo state. He recorded six A1s, two Bs, and one C in his GCE examination. His father revealed that the teenager had previously secured an 80% partial scholarship in 2025 to study Mechatronics Engineering in a European country, but the family declined due to his age at the time.
Family Seeks Support for Canada Admission
In the recently concluded 2026 UTME, Foreoluwahan improved his score by 30 points, moving from 335 to 365. He has now received admission to study Mechatronics Engineering at Ontario Tech University and is seeking scholarship support to fund the programme. His father, Taiwo Osokoya, told Legit.ng: "I retired in 2018 and have been self-employed since. I earnestly desire this opportunity for such a young talent."
JAMB Screening for Exceptional Candidates
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that JAMB has commenced the screening process for underage candidates who recorded high scores in the 2026 UTME. This move affects candidates who scored 320 and above and fall within the exceptional category. JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin confirmed that eligible candidates have begun receiving notifications to proceed to the next stage of evaluation at their selected institutions.
