The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to introduce a “Bring Your Own Device” option for candidates sitting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), starting from 2027.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed the development on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.
According to him, candidates will be permitted to use their personal devices for the examination, although a flash drive will be installed to prevent examination malpractice.
He explained that the initiative is aimed at making the examination process more convenient, cost-effective, and easier to administer, while also addressing recurring complaints from candidates about system failures during tests.
Oloyede said the new arrangement would improve the overall experience for candidates without compromising the credibility of the examination.
He also noted that additional innovations would be introduced by 2027 to further streamline the process.
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Speaking on the performance of candidates in the 2026 UTME, Oloyede announced that Jesudunsin Owoeye from Ekiti State emerged as the highest scorer nationwide with 372 marks out of 400.
She reportedly sat for the exam in Ogun State and selected the University of Lagos to study Medicine and Surgery.
He added that her score is three points lower than the 2025 record of 375, achieved by Chinedu Okeke from Anambra State.
In second place was Enwere Kingsley Ikenna from Imo State, who scored 370 after sitting for the exam in Lagos State. He chose Nile University to study Computer Science.
Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State placed third with a score of 369. He selected the Federal University of Technology, Akure, as his first choice to study Software Engineering.