Okeke Chinedu, a student from Anambra State, has scored the highest mark in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), achieving an impressive total of 375.
However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised concerns about Okeke’s academic history.
During the 2025 Policy Meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, noted that investigations into Okeke’s background showed a surprising inconsistency.
According to the Registrar, Okeke had previously been offered admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he was enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine.
Oloyede said that the board contacted UNN for further information, and the university confirmed that Okeke had indeed been admitted to study medicine four years ago. They also informed JAMB that the student was active and doing well academically.
“However, there is no evidence that he ever withdrew or was removed from the university’s records,” Oloyede said. Based on this finding, the board has written to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to prevent the possibility of Okeke practicing medicine under unclear or unauthorized conditions.
Despite the controversy, Okeke’s UTME performance stands as the highest in the country this year. He registered for mechanical engineering at the University of Lagos, sparking further curiosity over his switch from medicine.
Meanwhile, other high scorers in the 2025 UTME include Ayuba Simon-Peter, who came second with a score of 374. Several candidates tied for third place with 373 marks each: Jimoh Abdulmalik, Roberts Damiete, Ononugbo Chigozirim, Olawepo Gertrude, Afinotan Leslie, Azoyenime Samuel, and Oyebode Oluwapelumi.
In a related update, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, also stated during the meeting that the minimum age for admission into any higher institution in Nigeria remains 16 years.
