Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has been named Nigeria’s best-performing tertiary institution in the recent National Tertiary Admissions’ Performance-Merit Award (NATAP-M) for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 admission years.
ABU topped the list with 14 points across five key performance areas, earning the university ₦500 million. The University of Ilorin came second with nine points and ₦75 million, while Nile University of Nigeria placed third with six points and a ₦25 million prize.
The awards ceremony took place on Monday in Abuja during JAMB’s 2025 Policy Meeting. Organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the NATAP-M awards seek to encourage competition and recognise excellence among Nigerian tertiary institutions.
In other categories, Kaduna Polytechnic was named best polytechnic with 10 points and a ₦50 million prize. The Federal College of Education, Zaria, led the colleges of education category with 18 points, also winning ₦50 million. PEFTI Film Institute in Lagos grabbed the prize for best innovative enterprise institution, receiving ₦10 million.
JAMB Registrar Professor Is-haq Oloyede explained that the winners were selected based on five criteria. These include the highest number of admission seekers, geographical diversity across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, a minimum admission of 1,500 candidates, fair distribution among catchment areas, admission of foreign students, improved gender balance, and adherence to the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS).
Professor Oloyede said the awards shows JAMB’s commitment to promoting transparency, fairness, and meritocracy in Nigerian tertiary admissions.
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