The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has consistently revealed the highest-performing candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) during its annual policy meetings. Over the past three years, candidates from various states have emerged as top scorers, setting records and attracting attention for their outstanding achievements. Legit.ng highlights five interesting facts about JAMB top scorers from 2024 to 2026.
1. 2025 Recorded the Highest Scorer Between 2024 and 2026
A candidate named Okeke Chinedu Christian emerged as the overall best performer in the 2025 UTME with a score of 375 out of 400. This mark became the highest officially recorded score from 2024 to 2026. Chinedu, who hails from Anambra State, reportedly selected Mechanical Engineering and applied to the University of Lagos. According to reports, he studied daily from 4 pm to 10 pm and attended a tutorial center for CBT preparation. Interestingly, he had previously gained admission to study Medicine at the University of Nigeria in 2021 before deciding to retake the UTME.
2. Female Candidate Topped the 2026 UTME
After years of male dominance among top scorers, Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin became the best-performing candidate in the 2026 UTME. The Ekiti State indigene scored 372 out of 400, making her the overall top scorer nationwide. She was the only female candidate among the top 10 highest scorers released by JAMB for 2026. Daniella chose Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and applied to the University of Lagos. Her subject breakdown attracted online attention, showing she scored 98 in English, 98 in Chemistry, 94 in Physics, and 82 in Biology.
3. Engineering and Computer Courses Dominated Top Choices
A major trend among top scorers between 2024 and 2026 was the popularity of engineering and computer-related courses. In the 2026 top 10 list, nine candidates selected engineering, computer science, or technology-related courses, with only Daniella choosing Medicine and Surgery. Similarly, the top three scorers in 2025 all applied for Mechanical Engineering at different universities. This trend sparked online discussions about the growing interest in technology and engineering fields among high-performing UTME candidates.
4. Three Candidates Tied as Top Scorers in 2024
Unlike 2025 and 2026, where single candidates emerged as overall best performers, the 2024 UTME ended with a three-way tie. Olowu Joseph Oluwasijibomi, Alayande David, and Orukpe Joel Ehijele all scored 367 out of 400. The candidates came from Ondo, Oyo, and Edo states, respectively. JAMB did not publicly release details about their preferred courses or institutions during the policy meeting. The rare tie drew reactions from Nigerians, who praised the candidates' performances and discussed the statistics.
5. South-West States Dominated the 2026 Top 10
Another interesting trend from the 2026 list was the dominance of candidates from South-West states. Candidates from Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo states featured prominently among the highest scorers. Among them was Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State, who scored 369 and applied for Software Engineering at the Federal University of Technology Akure. Also on the list was Adebisi Eniola Sonari from Ogun State, who scored 367 and chose Computer Science at Covenant University.
Statistics released after the 2024 UTME showed how difficult it was to score above 300 in the examination. Reports indicated that only about 0.46% of the over 1.8 million candidates who sat for the examination scored 300 and above, highlighting the competitiveness of the exam.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that JAMB set 150 as the cut-off mark for university admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session.
