The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced Owoeye Jesudunsin from Ekiti State as the highest-scoring candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 admission policy meeting held in Abuja.
According to him, Jesudunsin sat for the examination in Ogun State and scored 372 out of the maximum 400 marks. She selected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as her first-choice institution to study Medicine and Surgery.
Oloyede noted that the score is three marks lower than the 375 recorded by Chinedu Okeke from Anambra State, who emerged as the top candidate in the 2025 UTME.
The registrar also announced that Ikenna Enwere from Imo State came second with 370 marks after writing the examination in Lagos State. Enwere chose Nile University, Abuja, to study Computer Science.
Ayomide Bamisile from Ondo State secured the third position with 369 marks. He selected the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), where he intends to study Software Engineering.
Meanwhile, JAMB revealed plans to introduce a “Bring your own device” option for candidates from 2027.
Oloyede said candidates would be permitted to use personal devices during the examination, while the board would install flash drives to prevent examination malpractice.
He explained that the new arrangement would reduce operational costs and address complaints from candidates whose computers malfunction during examinations.
According to him, the board is also preparing additional innovations aimed at improving the conduct of UTME by 2027.
At the meeting, stakeholders agreed on deadlines for the completion of the 2026 admission process across tertiary institutions in the country.
Public universities are expected to conclude admissions on or before October 31, 2026, while private universities must complete their admission exercises by November 30, 2026.
Polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education were also directed to finalise admissions before December 31, 2026.
Oloyede instructed institutions to strictly comply with the approved timelines. He warned that any institution that fails to conclude admissions before the deadline would lose access to candidates for that admission cycle.
The registrar further approved a four-week deadline for candidates to accept admission offers.
He said any candidate who fails to accept an admission offer within the stipulated period risks losing the opportunity and may not be reconsidered during the same admission session.
According to Oloyede, the measures are intended to promote transparency, fairness and timely completion of admissions nationwide.
Below are some of the top-performing candidates in the 2026 UTME based on JAMB’s verified ranking:
Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin (Ekiti) – 372
Enwere Kingsley Ikenna (Imo) – 370
Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel (Ondo) – 369
Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin (Oyo) – 368
Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi (Imo) – 368
Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen (Edo) – 368
Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony (Osun) – 368
Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony (Anambra) – 368
Offorkile Michael Okechukwu (Abia) – 367
Adebisi Eniola Sonari (Ogun) – 367
Umukoro Gift Orhenevovwero (Delta) – 367
