By Tony Onyima
According to the data released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has emerged as the most preferred institution among the top ten highest-scoring candidates in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Okeke Chinedu Christian from Anambra State leads the chart, scoring 375 points. He selected UNILAG to study Mechanical Engineering. He tops a tightly contested list, where the lowest score among the top ten is 372, and five candidates are tied at 373.
Five of the ten highest scorers chose UNILAG as their first-choice university, reaffirming its strong appeal to top academic talents, particularly in science and technology fields. The University of Ibadan (UI) followed with two candidates, while Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Covenant University (CU), and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) each attracted one top candidate.
Mechanical Engineering remains the most sought-after programme, with five of the ten choosing it. Electrical/Electronic Engineering followed with two, while Computer Science, Petroleum & Gas Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering each had one candidate. This confirms the continued dominance of STEM disciplines, especially engineering, among high-performing UTME candidates.
A notable feature of the list is the overwhelming gender imbalance. Nine of the top ten scorers are male. The only female, Olawepo Tunmise Gertrude from Kwara State, scored 373 and opted to study Computer Science at UNILAG. The disparity again highlights the persistent gender gap in STEM at the highest academic levels.
State representation among the top ten is skewed towards the southern states, except Gombe State. Delta and Kwara States produced two candidates each. Other states represented include Anambra, Gombe, Rivers, Enugu, Ogun, and Edo.
The distribution of scores—ranging narrowly from 372 to 375 points—points to stiff competition at the top. While Okeke leads with 375, the close margin underscores how fiercely contested academic excellence is in Nigeria’s tertiary entrance examinations.
JAMB’s release of the top scorers provides key insights into educational preferences and performance trends. This year’s data reveals a concentration of talent in engineering disciplines and the sustained allure of federal institutions like UNILAG for Nigeria’s brightest students.
As universities prepare for the 2025/2026 admission cycle, the performance and choices of these top scorers may serve as a barometer of academic ambition and institutional prestige in the country’s ever-competitive tertiary education landscape.
