A 16-year-old candidate, Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, has emerged as the highest scorer in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Daniella, an indigene of Ekiti State who sat for the examination in Ogun State, scored an aggregate of 372 out of 400. Her achievement was announced during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Monday.
The aspiring medical student is seeking admission to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos.
Her subject scores include 98 in English Language, 98 in Chemistry, 94 in Physics, and 82 in Biology.
Speaking about her success in posts shared on X on Tuesday, Daniella attributed her outstanding performance to consistency, strategic preparation, and extensive practice with past examination questions.
“A lot of you have been asking about my study routine, but here’s the truth: I didn’t study 24 hours a day. I didn’t just study hard — I studied smart. I made past questions my best friend,” she wrote.
She also encouraged future candidates to identify and address their weak areas early during preparation.
“I gave every subject the attention it deserved after identifying my strengths and weaknesses. Know your weak points and attack them early,” she added.
In another post celebrating the achievement, Daniella expressed gratitude, saying, “To God be all the glory! I’m excited to share that I emerged as Nigeria’s 2026 JAMB highest scorer with an aggregate score of 372/400.”
On Facebook, she noted that the accomplishment came after months of intense preparation and determination.
“This achievement did not come easily. The preparation process was quite demanding and challenging, but by the grace of God, my efforts eventually paid off,” she wrote.
The Ekiti State Government also congratulated the student in a statement shared on X, describing her performance as evidence that excellence can be achieved through focus and determination.
“Brilliance shines brightest when determination meets opportunity. Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, an indigene of Ekiti State, has made history by scoring 372 out of 400 in UTME 2026, the highest nationwide,” the statement read.
The government added that her success reflects “the resilience and vision of Nigeria’s youth, proving that excellence is possible when focus and ambition align.”
According to information shared on her social media pages, Daniella attended EFVP Wisdom Spring Model School and currently resides in Ogun State, while hailing from Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
