The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) boss, Ishaq Oloyede, has announced that Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin from Ekiti State emerged as the highest-scoring candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scoring 372 out of 400 marks.
Speaking on Monday during the 2026 admission policy meeting in Abuja, the JAMB registrar said Jesudunsin sat for the examination in Ogun State and selected University of Lagos as her first-choice institution to study Medicine and Surgery.
Oloyede noted that the score is three points lower than the highest mark recorded in the 2025 UTME, when Chinedu Okeke from Anambra State scored 375.
According to the ranking released by JAMB, Enwere Kingsley Ikenna from Imo State came second with 370 marks after writing the examination in Lagos. He selected Nile University to study Computer Science.
Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State placed third with 369 marks. He chose Federal University of Technology Akure to study Software Engineering.
JAMB introduces ‘bring your own device’ initiative
Oloyede also disclosed that JAMB plans to introduce a “Bring Your Own Device” option for candidates beginning from the 2027 UTME.
Under the proposed system, candidates would be allowed to use personal devices during the examination, while a secured flash drive would be inserted into the devices to prevent malpractice.
The registrar explained that the innovation is expected to reduce operational costs, simplify logistics, and address complaints from candidates whose computers malfunction during examinations.
He added that additional technological reforms would also be introduced before the 2027 exercise to improve the conduct of the examination.
Admission deadlines announced
Stakeholders at the meeting also agreed on timelines for the completion of the 2026 admission process across tertiary institutions.
Public universities are expected to conclude admissions on or before October 31, 2026, while private universities must complete theirs by November 30, 2026.
Polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education were directed to finish admissions by December 31, 2026.
Oloyede warned institutions against exceeding the approved deadlines, stating that any institution that fails to conclude its admission process within the stipulated timeframe would lose access to candidates for that admission cycle.
He further directed that admitted candidates must accept their offers within four weeks or risk forfeiting them.
According to him, the policy is aimed at ensuring transparency, fairness and timely completion of admissions nationwide.
READ RELATED STORY:
UTME 2026: JAMB releases 1.9m results, issues checking code
JAMB exempts education, agriculture candidates from UTME requirement
Top 2026 UTME candidates
- Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin (Ekiti) – 372
Institution: University of Lagos
Course: Medicine and Surgery - Enwere Kingsley Ikenna (Imo) – 370
Institution: Nile University
Course: Computer Science - Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel (Ondo) – 369
Institution: Federal University of Technology Akure
Course: Software Engineering - Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin (Oyo) – 368
Institution: Pan-Atlantic University
Course: Mechatronics Engineering - Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi (Imo) – 368
Institution: University of Port Harcourt
Course: Electrical/Electronic Engineering - Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen (Edo) – 368
Institution: University of Benin
Course: Mechanical Engineering - Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony (Osun) – 368
Institution: Obafemi Awolowo University
Course: Computer Engineering - Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony (Anambra) – 368
Institution: Afe Babalola University
Course: Software Engineering - Offorkile Michael Okechukwu (Abia) – 367
Course: Computer Science - Adebisi Eniola Sonari (Ogun) – 367
Institution: Covenant University
Course: Computer Science - Umukoro Gift Orhenevovwero (Delta) – 367
Institution: University of Lagos
Course: Electrical/Electronics Engineering
