JAMB has released the states and names of candidates with the best 2020/2021 UTME results.
The examination body said that the 10 best results came from Anambra, Edo, Delta, Ekiti, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Oyo and Ogun states respectively.
By an interesting coincidence, all the exceptional candidates enrolled for Engineering.
Universities of first choice by the best candidates:
- University of Lagos: 5 candidates
- Covenant University: 2
- Obafemi Awolowo University: 2
- University of Ilorin: 2
- Kwara State University and University of Ibadan: 1
The best performing UTME students and their states:
- 1st position: Maduafokwa Egoagwuagwu Agnes, 365 over 400, Anambra State
- 2nd, Nwobi Okechukwu David: 363/400, Anambra Sate
- 3rd, Ojuba Mezisashe Shalom and Elikwu Victor Chukwuemeka: 359/400, Delta State
- Ekiti State
- 5th Adebola Oluwatobi Paul, 358/400, Ekiti State
- 6th Gboyega Oluwatobiloba Enoch, 356/400
- 7th, Ojo Samuel Oluwatobi, and Utulu Jebose George, Ondo State, 355/400
- 9th, Osom Akan Awesome, 353, Akwa Ibom
- 10th position is shared by 4 candidates with 352/400 score
- Akakabota Fejiro Simeon, Delta
- Ogundele Favour Jesupemi, Kwara
- Alatise Monsura Bisola, Oyo
- Adelaja Oluwasemilore Daniel, Ogun
Sadly, MERIT IS NOT 100% considered in Nigeria’s university admissions because 20% admissions are given to educationally disadvantaged states, 35% to catchment area factor.
Only 45% of successful candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) are actually granted admissions based on merit.
The educationally disadvantaged states include: Cross River, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara.
Defending the catchment area policy today, 17th June, JAMB Spokesman, Fabian Benjamin said that the policy obtains everywhere in the world, including the US.
According to him “the rule of catchment area is still in place. I don’t know why people find it difficult to understand. Affirmative action is a global standard. It is done in the United States where blacks are given slots. Even Harvard does it.
“If a university is to admit 100 students, 45 of them will be given admission on merit then the second level is the catchment area. Every university is grouped in particular zones. The states that are within that catchment will look at the merit within those states.
Fabian Benjamin also explained that coming from an Educationally disadvantaged state does not mean that candidates who score below the cut-off marks will get automatic admit admissions.