Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has emerged as Nigeria’s top-performing tertiary institution, winning the National Tertiary Admissions’ Performance-Merit Award (NATAP-M) for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 admission years. The university scored an impressive 14 points across five key performance areas and received a grant of ₦500 million.
According to Professor Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar, the selection process was based on five key criteria, including the highest number of candidates seeking admission into the institution, geographical diversity in admissions from all 36 states and the FCT, admission of foreign candidates, improvements in gender balance, and compliance with the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) guidelines.
“We used these criteria to evaluate the performance of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, and ABU, Zaria, emerged tops,” Oloyede said, highlighting the rigorous assessment process that led to ABU’s recognition.
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) secured the second position with nine points and a prize of ₦75 million, while Nile University of Nigeria ranked third with six points and a grant of ₦25 million. Other winners included Kaduna Polytechnic, which was named the best polytechnic with 10 points and a ₦50 million prize, and the Federal College of Education, which took the top spot among colleges of education with 18 points and a ₦50 million award.
ABU’s achievement is a testament to its commitment to academic excellence and diversity in admissions. With its strong performance in the NATAP-M awards, ABU solidifies its position as a leading academic institution in Nigeria, known for producing high-quality research and maintaining a solid academic and non-academic reputation.