Imo State has once again demonstrated its strong academic excellence on the national stage as two brilliant sons of the state emerged among the highest-scoring candidates in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The development followed the official release of the list of the best-performing candidates in the 2026 UTME, with students from different states competing impressively for top national rankings.
Topping the national chart was Miss Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin from Ekiti State, who scored an outstanding 372 marks to emerge as the overall best candidate in the country. The exceptional student selected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as her first-choice institution, where she intends to study Medicine and Surgery (MBBS).
However, attention across Imo State has shifted strongly toward the remarkable achievements recorded by two candidates of Imo origin, who secured the second and one of the fourth positions nationwide respectively.
Master Enwere Kingsley Ikenna, an indigene of Imo State, emerged as the second highest scorer in Nigeria after recording an impressive score of 370 marks. According to the details released by JAMB, the brilliant candidate chose Nile University of Nigeria as his preferred institution, with Computer Science as his intended course of study.
Similarly, another outstanding Imo son, Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi, also secured a place among the top performers nationwide after scoring 368 marks, placing him among candidates tied in the fourth position nationally. He selected the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) as his first-choice institution and intends to study Electrical/Electronic Engineering.
The performance of the two Imo candidates has continued to attract commendations from education stakeholders, parents, and residents who described the achievement as a reflection of the intellectual strength and academic competitiveness associated with Imo students.
Observers noted that the strong outing by candidates from Imo State further reinforces the state’s long-standing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading centres of educational excellence and academic distinction.
The released JAMB data also showed that several of the highest-performing candidates in the country selected science, engineering, technology, and medical-related courses, highlighting the growing interest among Nigerian youths in innovation-driven and professional disciplines.
Among other top scorers released by the examination body were Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State, who scored 369 and applied to the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) for Software Engineering, alongside Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin from Oyo State, who scored 368 and chose Pan-Atlantic University to study Mechatronics Engineering.
Others listed among the top candidates include Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen from Edo State, Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony from Osun State, Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony from Anambra State, Offokile Michael Okechukwu from Abia State, Adebisi Eniola Sonari from Ogun State, and Umukoro Gift Oghenevovwero from Delta State.
The latest rankings released by JAMB have continued to generate widespread reactions across social media platforms, with many Nigerians celebrating the brilliance, hard work, and resilience demonstrated by the young scholars.
