ABU Clinches JAMB’s N500m Mega Award as Best Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

By Our Reporter Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has been named the overall winner of the 5th edition of the National Terti...

By Our Reporter

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has been named the overall winner of the 5th edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M), receiving a N500 million Mega Award from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The award was presented during a ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday, 8th July, 2025, recognising ABU as the best-performing institution across all five criteria in the combined 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 admission years. The university scored an aggregate of 14 points to emerge the overall winner.

This was contained in a statement signed and released by the Public Affairs Directorate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, on Tuesday. 

The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, handed over the N500 million cheque and a certificate of award to ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed. She was joined by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, along with other senior officials of the Board.

Also in attendance were members of ABU’s Governing Council, Prof. Mato D. Dogara and Dr. Claris Ujah, alongside the university’s Registrar, Malam Rabiu Samaila, and Admissions Officer, Malam Mohammed Aminu Garba.

Speaking at the event, JAMB Registrar Prof. Oloyede said the award was designed to promote national unity, institutional transparency, and gender inclusiveness in admissions across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

“We introduced the award to encourage national spread in student intake, improve gender balance, and drive healthy competition among institutions,” Oloyede stated.

In his response, ABU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adamu Ahmed expressed deep appreciation to JAMB for the honour, describing the award as a motivation to strive for higher global recognition.

“We are grateful for this recognition and will continue to implement policies that push Nigerian universities up the global rankings,” he said, while acknowledging the roles played by the institution’s Governing Council, Senate, staff, and alumni in achieving the feat.

The NATAP-M awards are part of JAMB’s initiative to enhance transparency and merit in the admissions process and to recognise institutions that demonstrate excellence in national representation and academic leadership.