JAMB Compliance Prize: 13 Tertiary Institutions Win N500M

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has distributed a total of N500 million in prize money to thirteen different tertiary institutions throughout the country.

The awardees, which included federal, state, and private colleges, were ranked best for the 2020 JAMB National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Award (NATAP-M Award).

The winners received N100 million for each of the five award categories.

The categories include the most preferred institution by candidates, the school with the most national diversity, the institution with the most improved gender balance, and the institution with the most international students.

The awarding of prizes took place on Thursday at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, during the admission policy meeting presided over by the education minister, Adamu Adamu.

According to the JAMB registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, the award ceremony was the third in the series since it began in 2018.

Oloyede stated that the winners will receive N75 million, while the first and second runners-up will receive N15 million and N10 million, respectively.

He stated that the award, which was originally set at N100 million for the winners only, was revised to include incentives for runners-up upon the proposal of Education Minister Adamu Adamu.

Winners

With 81,659 candidates in the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) emerged as the most sought-after tertiary institution in Nigeria, while Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) ranked second with 75,446. Bayero University, Kano (BUK) came in third place with 59,506.

UNILORIN won N75 million, while ABU and BUK received N15 million and N10 million, respectively.

Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State, emerged first in the category of the most national in admission spread, with candidates from all 33 states of the Federation.

Ahmadu Bello University came in first, with candidates from 32 states, and Afe Babalola University came in second, with candidates from 29 states.

According to Mr. Oloyede, this category takes into account the institutions with the most diversified students from around the country.

Meanwhile, Federal University, Lafia, was awarded the medal for the greatest improved gender balance in 2020. The first runner-up was the FCT College of Education, Zuba, and the second runner-up was Abia State University, Uturu.

The university with the most foreign students was Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, with 61 candidates; the University of Maiduguri was second with 20, and Nile University in Abuja was third with 11.

Meanwhile, Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State, ranked as the best in terms of JAMB policy compliance. The University of Ibadan and the University of Maiduguri were named first and second runners-up, respectively.

New Development

Prior to the next award ceremony in 2023, the JAMB registrar said that the board will split the rewards for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

He also stated that the entire prize, which is currently set at N500 million, will be increased to N750 million by then.