In an exclusive interview with Nigeria Live 24, Daniella Owoeye, the top-performing candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), shared her excitement after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced her as the highest scorer with an impressive 372 marks.
The 16-year-old student from Ogun State gained national recognition when JAMB released the results on May 11, 2026, revealing that she had outperformed thousands of other candidates across the country.
Daniella's Reaction to Her Achievement
Speaking with our correspondent, Daniella expressed her joy and pride upon hearing the news. "I was very excited and felt proud of myself," she said. The talented teenager also revealed that she had anticipated such an outcome, stating, "Yes, I expected to be the highest or at least among the top 3."
Daniella took to social media platform X to celebrate her victory, posting a message of gratitude and encouragement for other students.
Plans for Post-UTME at UNILAG
Daniella, who applied to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), outlined her strategy for the upcoming post-UTME screening. "I intend to make use of Post UTME materials like past questions and some CBT apps. I will also be attending Post UTME tutorials online," she explained.
Spiritual Preparation and Dedication
The teenager, who will turn 17 in August, attributed her success to her faith and discipline. "Most importantly, I committed my preparations into God's hands. I prayed daily and also fasted for my academic success. I took God seriously in my preparation and I felt He also took me seriously by granting me good success," she shared.
In an earlier interview, Daniella had revealed her motivation for choosing Medicine and Surgery at UNILAG. She said, "I chose UNILAG because it is one of the best universities that offers my desired course and I chose Medicine and Surgery because of my unwavering interest and passion to provide medical support for the sick, relieve pain and help people live a healthy life."
Tutorial Platform Celebrates Her Success
Following the announcement, the tutorial platform where Daniella prepared for the UTME took to social media to celebrate her achievement. The CEO of the platform praised her hard work and dedication, noting that her success reflected the collective effort of tutors, coaches, staff, and students throughout the 2026 UTME preparation period.
A viral TikTok post showcasing Daniella's subject-by-subject score breakdown drew widespread admiration from netizens, who congratulated her for her outstanding performance.
