Edo State Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa has presented a N1 million cash reward to Daniel Osagiobare, an Edo-born student who achieved the highest UTME score in the South-South geopolitical zone, ranking fourth overall in Nigeria in the 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
Osagiobare, who scored 368 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), was hosted by Idahosa at the deputy governor's office in Benin City on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The deputy governor praised Osagiobare's performance, calling him a worthy ambassador of Edo State, as reported by The Punch.
Deputy Governor's Motivation for the Reward
Idahosa said Osagiobare's result brought honour to the state, adding that such brilliance and discipline showed what Edo youths could achieve with the right support. According to the Guardian, he framed the cash reward as a deliberate message to students across the state.
"The future of our nation lies in the hands of brilliant young minds like Daniel. His outstanding performance has not only made his family proud but has also placed Edo State in the national spotlight for excellence," Idahosa said. "We will continue to celebrate and encourage excellence in every sector. And the N1 million is part of efforts to do that."
Commitment to Education Under Okpebholo Administration
Idahosa reaffirmed the commitment of the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration to improving education in the state and building an environment where talented young people can compete at both national and international levels. He urged Osagiobare to remain focused and humble as he pursues his academic goals.
Student and Father Respond to Honour
Osagiobare described the recognition as a life-changing moment and promised to remain committed to academic excellence while working to justify the trust placed in him. His father, Christopher Osagiobare, who accompanied him to the event, thanked the deputy governor for the gesture, saying it would serve as motivation for his son and for other young Nigerians with ambitions to succeed academically.
Related Recognition: JAMB to Reward Seven with N5m Each
In a related development, JAMB announced that seven outstanding undergraduates were selected to receive N5 million each after excelling in the 2025 admission exercise. The award recipients were chosen through a merit-based process that recognised the best-performing admitted candidate from each geopolitical zone. More than 300 education stakeholders, government officials and university leaders were expected to attend the maiden Academic Excellence Recognition Award Ceremony in Lagos.
Other Notable Academic Achievements
Recall that a Nigerian mother shared her daughter Dami's 2026 WAEC result on social media, revealing she passed all her subjects with impressive grades. Dami had already secured admission into Pan-Atlantic University on the strength of her 314 JAMB score before her WAEC results came out. The proud mother said seeing the results made her want to go and hug her daughter, while also noting that school fees savings would now begin.
