News
BREAKING: 2025 JAMB Policy Ushers in Major Admission Reforms-Ranking Now More Crucial Than Raw Scores
Editorial
Abuja, Nigeria – The 2025 edition of the joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Policy Meeting has introduced sweeping changes set to reshape university admissions in Nigeria. The announcements, which were made by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during the Policy gathering in Abuja, have since been reported by major national media including Channels TV, The Nation, Vanguard, Daily Trust, and The Punch.
One of the most notable revelations is a shift in the evaluation framework for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates: ranking is now more significant than absolute scores.
“JAMB is not an achievement test; it is a ranking exam,”
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, JAMB.
With this redefinition of purpose, every JAMB result slip will now feature not just a candidate’s raw score, but also their national ranking- a comparative measure showing how well they performed in relation to others across the country.
Why Rank Matters More Than Score
The implication is clear: a high score may no longer guarantee an edge if other candidates outperformed you nationally. Real-world data shared by JAMB supports this:
• A student with 370 marks ranked only 16th nationwide.
• Another candidate who scored 200 was placed 533,005th.
• Someone with 140 could rank below 1.5 million.
This means that candidates and parents must now focus more on relative ranking than just the numeric score.
2025 UTME Top Performers Unveiled
JAMB has officially released the names of the top 10 candidates in the 2025 UTME, most of whom applied to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) -an emerging hub for top-tier engineering aspirants.
Here are the standout Performers:
1. Dzekwe Chinedu Chielotan – 379, UNILAG, Mechanical Engineering.
2. Ayuba Simon-Peter John – 378, UNILAG, Mechanical Engineering
3. Jimoh Abdulmutalib Olayinka – 374, UNILAG, Mechanical Engineering
4. Roberts Daniels Ayiba – 373, UNILAG, Mechanical Engineering
5. Ononogbu Chigozirim Chlbuozor – 373, UNILAG, Electrical/Electronic Engineering
6. Olawoye Garrudes Tumise – 371, UNILAG, Mechanical Engineering
7. Afiunu Ofeortiee Leslle – 369, COVENANT, Computer Science
8. Azayiseme Samuel Chukwumeka – 369, COVENANT, Mechanical Engineering
9. Oyelude Oluwapemisi Emmanuel – 369, OAU, Areospace Engineering
10. Omeigie Osalogho Cecil – 365, UI Mechanical Engineering
Most Popular Universities in 2025
Jamb also released data on the instructions with the highest number of first-choice applications, According to Daily Trust and The Nation, the top 10 most sought – after installations are:
1. Lagos State University (LASU) – 79,000
2. University of Lagos (UNI LAG) – 58,645
3. University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) – 56,734
4. Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) – 52,103
5. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) – 51,467
6. University of Ibadon (UI) – 48,291
7. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) – 46,542
8. University of Benin (UNIBEN) – 45,686
9. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) – 43,777
Insight: The more applications a school receives, the stiffer the competition – especially for high – demand programs like medicine, Law , and Engineering.
Approved Cut-Off Marks for 2025/2026 Admissions
In line with the new policy direction, JAMB has set the following minimum Cut-Off Marks:
a. Federal & State Universities: 150
b. Colleges of Nursing: 140
c. Polytechnics, Colleges of Education & Agriculture: 100
Admission Timelines and Deadlines
Jamb also released strict deadlines for completing the admissions process:
a. Public universities are expected to conclude admissions by October 2025.
b. Private universities and institutions have up until November -December 2025.
Candidates must also act promptly on admission offers:
a. If JAMB recommends a candidate to a school, it must accept or reject the offer within two weeks.
b. If a candidate receives a direct offer from an institution, they have four weeks to respond. Failure to meet these deadlines can result in the forfeiture of admissions.
Stricter Merit-Based Admission Policy
To clamp down on manipulative admission practices, JAMB now mandates that institutions must fill at least 90% of their admission slots based strictly on merit before resorting to the exemption mode- often abused for “connection -based” entries.
This decision, as reported by Channels Television, reinforces JAMB ‘s commitment to fairness and meritocracy.
Minimum Age Requirement Still 16
The board reaffirmed that the minimum Age for University admission remains 16 years. Candidates below the age are not eligible , regardless to their POST UTME scores.
Medical Courses Remain Overwhelmingly Competitive
In another significant update, over 570,000 candidates reportedly applied for programmes under Medical Sciences. However, available slots across the country can accommodate only about 115,000 students – meaning only 1 in 5 applicant will be admitted.
A Final Word to Parents and Candidates
In light of these reforms, both students and parents must now adopt a new mindset. Scoring 300+ May look good on paper, but if thousands of others scored higher, the rank is what truly determines admission.
Stay informed, monitor your rank, and respond quickly to offers. The new JAMB era demands strategy, speed and smart choices .
LATE CHIEF BETHLEHEM INGO,
Bebefiyewei of Grand Iduwini Kingdom,
“A Voice Lost Forever”
It’s been 21 years, yet the name Chief Bethlehem Ingo still echoes with respect and warmth.
We join in remembering a man whose legacy lives on through the voices of those who still say, “He was a good man.”
Iduwini people lost a voice in the demise of the Bebefiyewei that personified Spokesmanship.
Chief Ingo’s memory remains alive in the lives he touched, in the battles he worn, in the legacies he bequited.
🕊️ Rest on, the Great Chief Beth Ingo. You are missed by Odimodi, Iduwini, Ijaw nation — today.. always.
_From all of us at IduwiniVoice_
By Daire Pere-ebi
Things happen everyday, and some are terrifying. Tale of hardship, moshaps, joy, goodwill, etcetera. But what if you’re told that in a tale of extraordinary endurance and resilience, British couple Maurice and Maralyn Baily survived nearly four months adrift in the Pacific Ocean after their yacht was fatally struck by a whale in 1973.
The couple had set out on a dream journey across the Pacific, having sold their home in England to embrace a life of seafaring adventure. Their voyage aboard a 31-foot yacht, Auralyn, took a devastating turn in Mar h 1973 as they sailed westward from Panama, near the Galapagos Islands.
In the early morning hours, a sperms whale collided with yacht, tearing open the hull. Within minutes, the Auralyn was beyond saving. The Baileys escaped into a small inflatable raft and dinghy, managing to retrieve a few essential items – some canned food, fishing gear, a compass, and a solar still. With no radio or emergency beacon, they were cast into one of the most remote parts of the Pacific, with little hope of immediate rescue.
What followed was an unimaginable 118-day survival ordeal. The Baileys battled the searing tropical sun, saltwater scores, dehydration, and hunger. They relied on collected rainwater for hydration and fashioned rudimentary tools from safety pins and yacht remnants to catch fish, turtles, and even birds. Their bodies withered from malnutrition, their clothing deteriorated, and their nights were filed with uncertainty as distant ships passed them by, unaware of their desperate situation.
Despite the hardship, the couple remained committed to surviving together. Climbing to each other through frigid nights and burning days, they pushed through the extremes of isolation and physical suffering.
Salvation finally came on June 30, 1973, when a South Korean fishing vessel spotted them and pulled them aboard. The Baileys, frail and emaciated but alive, were taken to Hawaii for recovery.
Their harrowing experience, later detailed in their memoir 117 Days Adrift, drew international attention and became a symbol of unbreakable human spirit.
Remarkably, the trauma of their ordeal did not deter them from the sea—they returned to sailing, their passion unshaken by the vast ocean that once nearly claimed their lives.
The Baileys’ story remains one of the most compelling sagas of survival ever recorded, a testament to courage, love, and sheer willpower against the unforgiving forces of nature.
Credit: Weired, Wonder, and Amazing Things
By Favour Bibaikefie
Abuja, Nigeria – In a commendable display of appreciation, ‘Gen.’ Dennis Kpaidia, leader of the Tantita Odimodi Unit, has lauded the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro (PhD.), for his unwavering commitment to peacebuilding and leadership development in the Niger Delta.
This follows the commencement of a three-day day intensive training programme on Peacebuilding, Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation, organised by the PAP in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja.
The training, held in the Federal Capital Territory, brought together selected youth and community leaders from various communities across the Iger Delta. The initiative forms part of the reintegration phase of the Amnesty Programme, aimed at equipping key stakeholders with tools for the effective leadership, dialogue, and nonviolent conflict resolution in order to forestall imminent intercommunity crisis.
Speaking to IduwiniVoice, Kpaidia expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Otuaro over what he described as a “visionary leadership style that prioritizes the growth and peaceful coexistence of the region.”He noted that such training sessions are vital in deepening participants’ understanding of conflict dynamics and in strengthening local structures for sustainable peace.
“This training has opened our eyes to new methods of resolving disputes peacefully and building consensus in our communities. I thank Chief Dr. Otuaro for investing in our future of the Niger Delta youth and for giving us the tolls to lead rightly.” Kaidia State.
The peacebuilding programme is expected to continue over the next two days, with sessions facilitated by security and conflict resolution experts, mediators, and development professionals from both civil and military backgrounds.
As the region continues its journey towards lasting peace and sustainable development, initiatives like this stand out as evidence of the evolving impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship.