The University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has been named the best institution at the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) National Tertiary Admissions’ Performance-Merit Award (NATAP-M Award) for the years 2021 and 2022.
The award ceremony took place during the 2024 JAMB policy meeting and the 4th edition of the NATAP-M Award, held in Abuja on Thursday.
Unilorin secured the top position by accumulating 12 points across five categories of the award, earning a substantial cash prize of N500 million. Ahmed Bello University, Zaria, claimed second place with 11 points and received a cash prize of N75 million, while Borno State University ranked third with nine points and was awarded N50 million.
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In the sectoral awards, Kaduna Polytechnic emerged as the best polytechnic, also securing 12 points and receiving a prize of N50 million. The Federal College of Education, Zaria, was named the best college of education with 11 points, earning a N50 million prize. The PEFTI Film Institute in Lagos won the category for Innovation Enterprise Institutions with six points and received a cash prize of N10 million.
JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede announced that the overall award prize had been increased to N750 million to ensure the winner could achieve significant results with the funding. He also stated that any institution that wins the overall award cannot compete for it again until after five years, allowing the prize to be distributed more broadly.
“This year, the Board remitted over N3.5 billion to the Federal Government and set aside N750 million for the winning institutions,” Oloyede disclosed.
Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau, in his remarks, highlighted that the ceremony celebrated collective achievements and demonstrated the unwavering dedication, hard work, and promotion of excellence that characterize the nation’s tertiary admission processes.
In addition to the institutional awards, the Board also gave recognition awards to several notable figures in the education sector. Honorees included former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Emeritus Peter Okebukola, National Coordinator of the UBEC Digital Resource Centre Prof. Baahir Galadanci, and two others for their significant contributions to education.
Prof. Okebukola, speaking on behalf of the awardees, expressed gratitude to God and JAMB. He praised Prof. Ishaq Oloyede for his commitment to duty, good leadership, and governance, saying, “If we are to award one person out of the 220 million people in Nigeria for commitment to duty, good leadership, and governance, I will give that award to Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. If Oloyede is elected president, Nigeria will be a better country. He has been a model for transparency, accountability, and diligence.”
