Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has emerged the overall winner of the 5th edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M), clinching a prestigious ₦500 million Mega Award presented by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
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The award ceremony, held in Abuja on Tuesday, celebrated ABU as the best-performing tertiary institution in Nigeria for the combined admission years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
ABU scored a remarkable 14 aggregate points across all five elements of the Mega Award category, placing it firmly at the top among other institutions.
Presenting the cheque and certificate of award to the university, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, commended ABU for its excellence in admissions and contribution to national development.
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She was joined by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, and other senior officials of the Board in making the presentation to ABU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adamu Ahmed.
The NATAP-M Award is part of JAMB’s strategic initiative to promote inclusivity, gender equity, transparency, and national unity in tertiary admissions across Nigeria.
According to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Oloyede, the award encourages institutions to admit students from all geopolitical zones, support female participation in higher education, and maintain transparency in their admissions processes.
“This award aims to foster healthy competition and ensure a national spread in candidate admissions,” Prof. Oloyede said. “It also recognizes institutions that have upheld integrity and inclusivity in their operations.”
Speaking on behalf of the university, Prof. Adamu Ahmed expressed deep appreciation to JAMB for the recognition, pledging ABU’s continued commitment to excellence.
“We are truly honored by this award,” he said. “It motivates us to do more in raising the standards of university education in Nigeria and to continue improving our global rankings.”
He also thanked ABU’s Governing Council, Senate, alumni, and stakeholders for their collective efforts in helping the institution attain this milestone.
Dignitaries present at the event included members of ABU’s Governing Council, Prof. Mato D. Dogara and Dr. Claris Ujah, as well as the university’s Registrar, Malam Rabiu Samaila, and Admissions Officer, Malam Mohammed Aminu Garba.
The NATAP-M Awards, introduced by JAMB in recent years, celebrate outstanding institutions for their role in transforming Nigeria’s higher education landscape through equitable and quality-driven admissions.
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