By Rosemary Etim Bassey
16-year-old student Daniella Owoeye Jesudunsin has emerged as the overall highest scorer in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) after scoring 372 out of a possible 400 marks.
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Daniella, who is from Ekiti State and resides in Ogun State, achieved the win in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), placing her at the top of thousands of candidates nationwide.
According to her result breakdown, she scored 98 in English language, 98 in chemistry, 94 in physics, and 82 in biology.
Speaking on her performance in an interview with Punch, Daniella said her success came from strategic preparation rather than long, exhausting study hours.
She explained that she focused on smart studying, saying:
“I didn’t study 24 hours a day. I didn’t just study hard; I was smart with it. I made past questions my best friend.”
She added that identifying weak areas early and working on them helped her stay on track:
“I gave every subject the attention it deserved after identifying my strengths and weaknesses. Know your weak points and attack them early.”
According to her, discipline and consistency played a major role in her preparation. She said she used past questions extensively, studied topic by topic, and relied on CBT practice platforms to simulate exam conditions.
Daniella also admitted that achieving her score required sacrifice, including cutting down on leisure activities and distractions in order to remain focused.
Despite the pressure, she said she stayed committed to her long-term goal of studying medicine and surgery at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Her performance has attracted commendation, including recognition from the Ekiti State government, which described her achievement as a source of pride to the state.
Online reports also indicate that an international education organisation has expressed interest in engaging her as a potential ambassador following her academic performance.
Daniella’s 372 marks place her among the highest-performing UTME candidates in recent years, where top scorers have consistently posted scores in the 350–380 range.
In previous examination cycles, JAMB has recorded several high-performing candidates who reached similar peak scores, particularly in science-based subjects such as medicine, engineering, and technology-related courses. These candidates are often publicly celebrated by their states of origin and educational institutions.
However, JAMB has also repeatedly cautioned against misinformation around “highest scorers”, especially in cases where multiple candidates record very close top marks or where claims circulate before official verification is completed.
Despite this, consistently high scorers over the years have highlighted a trend: exceptional UTME performance is usually linked to structured preparation, familiarity with CBT systems, and consistent practice with past questions rather than last-minute reading.
The UTME remains one of Nigeria’s most competitive examinations, serving as the primary entry requirement into tertiary institutions. Each year, millions of candidates sit for the exam, with only a small fraction scoring above 300.
Education stakeholders say candidates who score above 350 are typically among the top percentile nationally, making Daniella’s 372 a standout performance in the 2026 cycle.
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