UTME 2026: LASU, UNILAG, OAU lead 10 most preferred Nigerian Universities, says JAMB

*The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board discloses the Lagos State University recorded the highest number of first-choice applications, and University of Lagos followed closely with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University ranked third with 60,370 applications from admission seekers across the West African country in 2026

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in the latest data released Monday, May 11, 2026, disclosed the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, in Lagos State, recorded the highest number of first-choice applications, followed by the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

ConsumerConnect reports JAMB presented the statistics Monday, May 11, 2026, during the ongoing Admission Policy meeting, in Abuja, FCT.

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The Board revealed the figures in a photograph presented to reporters and representatives of tertiary institutions of learning attending the 2026 Admission policy meeting.

The public examination Board also revealed that LASU received 84,426 applications from candidates seeking admissions for the 2026 academic session, representing 3.76 percent of the total first-choice applications submitted nationwide.

It said the University of Lagos followed closely with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University ranked third with 60,370 applications from admission seekers across the West African country.

The data further indicated the University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, in Oyo State, secured the fourth position with 58,895 applications, ahead of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), which recorded 55,425 applications this year.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, in Anambra State, emerged sixth on the list with 54,085 applications, while the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) ranked seventh with 52,514 applications, said the Board.

JAMB disclosed the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), as well recorded 51,660 applications to occupy the eighth position.

It stated the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) and the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) completed the top 10 list with 48,272 and 48,199 applications, respectively.

However, the latest ranking reflects changing admission preferences among candidates, said the Board.

It added that some higher institutions of learning that previously dominated the list dropped positions in the 2026 application cycle.

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