Success is never an accident; it's a deliberate consistent effort that births greatness. In the chapters of JAMB's logbook, some names have been etched in gold, irresistibly celebrated like rainbows in the sky. These have distinguished themselves through hard work, resilience and nights spent on candles burnt with eyes that blazed for the hunger of success.
They are the JAMB champions, the ones who graced interviews, and newspaper covers, bagged awards and are stark reminders that hard work pays.
What secret formula did these young minds adopt? While JAMB has been the Jericho wall between many students and their dream courses and institutions, these champions have ridden on Jericho walls and even had tables prepared on top for them.
There must be some secrets somewhere! There must be some sacrifices made by these to become legends in the annals of JAMB.
But first, who are these champions? Where did they come from?
The 2014- 2024 JAMB top scorers
2014 JAMB Top candidate
Meet Onomejoh Princewill, the 2014 UTME top candidate with a whooping score of 299.
He attended Oyemekun Grammar School in Akure, Ondo State. Princewill's resilience has shown his strive for success. According to Cable ng, Princewill is doing very great in his chosen career path and has held various academic positions as a well-learned scholar.
2015 JAMB Top Candidate
With a high score of 332, Ilukwe Lottachukwu Geraldine, a student of Loyola Jesuit College, outshined other UTME candidates and clutched the best UTME top scorer for the 2015 JAMB session. Lotta is a voice, impacting lives and advocating for energy sustainability.
2016 JAMB Top Candidate
In a dogged battle for success, the 2016 top scorer position was a tie. That year saw two candidates Akenbor Adesuwa Osarugue and Anonye Victory Emenike as joint top scorers. They both had 359 in the UTME results published by JAMB. When you see these young stars now, you may not recognise them because they are excelling through hard work.
2017 JAMB Top Candidate
Akingbulugbe Precious Ayomide became the cynosure of his time when he emerged as the top scorer in the 2017 UTME. He got 353 in the exam. Though he had little or no known media presence, his impact and credibility can never be swept under the carpet.
2018 JAMB Top Candidate
Galadima Israel Zakari of Faith Academy in Ota, Ogun state became a sensational personality with his 364 score in the 2018 UTME results. Zakari was named the top scorer for the year. Though he had some rough patches on his path, like kissing his Dad at a tender age, Zakari didn't give up. He became the star boy who made his family proud and won a N5 million scholarship from the then Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima. The Cable ng reported that the brilliant scholar stated in an interview that he read voracious and that helped him. In his words, "I read a lot, I knew I was going to do well but not up to this feat" Zakari is a great man driving change and propelling growth around him.
2019 JAMB Top Candidate
Ezeunala Ekene Franklin of Meiran Community Senior High School in Lagos added his name among the JAMB champions when he scored an incredible 347 mark in his UTME result. He became the cynosure of attention granting interviews and being featured by some media outlets. Ekene didn't relent despite being just 15 years old. He pushed all odds to prove that age is just a number when it comes to success. He was Offered $4.35 Million Scholarships to study in the United States. Ekene is bigger today than he was six years ago.
2020 JAMB Top Candidate
With an impressive 365 UTME score, Maduafokwa Egoagwuagwu Agnes, a graduate of Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu-Itele in Ogun state, emerged as the top UTME scorer for 2020. In an interview with the Guardian, she stated, "In my school, people study a lot. Sometimes they read into the night when they are supposed to be sleeping." Agnes got recognised and she's soaring in her chosen career path.
2021 JAMB Top Candidate
Monwuba Chibuzo Chibuikem from Anambra State topped the chart and became the best UTME candidate in the 2021 result. He scored 358 to become a sensational figure in her time. Chibuikem did not just relent, he is currently studying at one of the best universities in the world.
2022 JAMB Top Candidate
Adebayo Eyimofe Oluwatofunmi clinched the top scorer of UTME with 362. The Ekiti state young man was outstanding in his performance and graced different media headlines.
2023 JAMB Top Candidate
Nkechinyere Umeh from Anambra with an impressive score of 360 ranked the top UTME 2023 scorer. The Deeper Life High School Mowe graduate was celebrated by many individuals for her outstanding performance. Cable ng reported that Charles Soludo, the governor of Anambra state, granted her a full scholarship to study any course of her choice at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU). Nkechinyere also grabbed eight A's in her West African Senior Secondary School Examination result. In an interview with Daily Trust, she stated that she studied as many hours as possible. That's a limitless strive for success. The young vibrant girl is indeed a rising star.
2024 JAMB Top Candidate
The 2024 JAMB top scorer came with a fierce tug, however, at the end of the day, Alayande David from Oyo, Olowu David from Ondo, and Orukpe Joel from Edo emerged as the best candidates with huge 367 scores. 17-year-old Alayande was awarded a full scholarship by Nile University, Nigeria.
Now the page for the best candidate in 2025 is still free, they will emerge as the top scorer(s). While whoever the cap fits should proudly wear it.
5 top secrets of the champions
Have a success mindset
Your first step to scoring high in JAMB is to truly believe that you can. Because if you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hands. The champions understood that the battle was first won in the mind before it was won on paper. Their confidence was unshakable, their belief in themselves unwavering. They did not approach JAMB with fear; they attacked it with the mindset of victors. They never stumble upon greatness, they created it. You can create yours.
Master the JAMB Syllabus
Syllabus gives you focus and direction so that you don't waste your time studying on topics irrelevant to your exam.
The JAMB champions did not waste time on what didn't matter. They laser-focused on the JAMB syllabus, understanding that every question would come from it.
Hard work is good, but smart work is better. If you want to break records, you must study strategically and use every available resource to your advantage.
Pay discipline and consistency orice for greatness
For every crown, there is a cross. The highest JAMB scorers did not achieve success on a bed of roses. They made sacrifices, some painful but all necessary. The waking up at night to study, the devotion and consistency, discarding distractions on the way. The champions carved out sacred study hours, sticking to strict routines. Have you drawn your study timetable yet?
Technology & smart resources leverage
Don't waste your time on TikTok videos, movies and Facebook reels. Look for insightful JAMB video tutorials and learn them. Don't just rely solely on textbooks. The best scorers embraced modern tools like CBT apps, online test simulations, and video tutorials to sharpen their skills.
Work/walk with successful minds
Surrounding yourself with people of excellence is a great key. As the scriptures say, evil communication corrupts good manners. Imagine what good communication will do.
The JAMB champions understood the power of association. They joined study groups, engaged in intellectual discussions, and sought mentorship from those who had gone before them.
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