The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disbursed a total of N710 million to six outstanding tertiary institutions as part of its 2025 National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Award (NATAP-M).
The announcement was made by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, during the board’s 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, held Tuesday in Abuja. The event also marked the fifth edition of the NATAP-M Awards, covering performance from 2023 and 2024.
According to Prof. Oloyede, the awards were based on five performance criteria, including compliance with admission regulations, inclusivity in admitting students from across all states and the FCT, and alignment with the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, emerged as the overall winner, scoring 14 points to earn a prize of N500 million.
University of Ilorin followed as first runner-up, with nine points and a N75 million reward.
Nile University of Nigeria, a private institution based in Abuja, secured third place with six points, taking home N25 million.
The awards, which have been presented annually since 2018, are part of JAMB’s efforts to recognize and encourage excellence, compliance, and inclusiveness in the nation’s admission processes. The winners were presented with symbolic cheques during the ceremony.
In the polytechnic category, Kaduna Polytechnic clinched the top prize with an aggregate of 10 points and received N50 million.
Federal College of Education, Zaria, emerged as the best College of Education with 18 points and also received N50 million.
In the Innovation Enterprise Institutions (IEIs) category, PEFTI Film Institute, Lagos, took the top spot with four points, earning a N10 million prize.
Selection Criteria
JAMB evaluated institutions using the following criteria:
Highest number of applicants selecting the institution as their first choice.
Nationwide diversity in admitted candidates (from all states and the FCT).
Institutions that admitted at least 1,500 candidates.
Fair distribution of admitted candidates among catchment areas or all states, in the case of specialized institutions.
Highest number of foreign student admissions.
Improvements in gender balance.
Strict adherence to CAPS guidelines.
Prof. Oloyede emphasized that the awards aim to promote fairness, transparency, and national integration in the tertiary admission system.
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