Some candidates who scored above 340 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), including achieving over 90 marks in Mathematics, have attributed their success to hard work, prayer, and a clear sense of purpose.
In separate interviews in Ibadan on Thursday, the high-performing candidates shared how personal discipline, vision, and support from their families and schools helped them excel.
Temiloluwa Afolabi, a 15-year-old student of Oritamefa Baptist Model School, Ibadan, scored 98 in Mathematics and an impressive 363 overall. He aspires to study Computer Engineering and believes doggedness and prayer were key to his success.
“Having the goal in mind and believing it will come together — then working towards it — is the secret to success,” Afolabi said. “If you can’t see it, you can’t get it. You must picture your goal and chase it with everything.”
He urged fellow students to combine prayers with relentless study, stressing the importance of having a clear academic vision.
Olarenwaju Okubanjo, a 16-year-old from Christ Ambassadors International College, Ibadan, scored 97 in Mathematics and 360 overall. He attributed his success to consistent studying and faith.
“I kept reading my textbooks over and over again and practicing past questions. I also prayed constantly. I’m grateful to God,” said Okubanjo, who aims to study Mechanical Engineering at Pan Atlantic University. “It’s just a phase; it will be worth it in the end.”
Bogotinjetoluwa Ayodeji-Olatuyi, another 15-year-old from Christ Ambassadors International College, scored 98 in Mathematics and 345 overall. With dreams of becoming a robotics and artificial intelligence expert, he said daily practice and strong support from teachers and family played a crucial role.
“I did practice tests almost every day and followed a clear plan to increase my scores,” he said. “Students should develop daily academic goals and avoid excuses. For me, solving math problems every day made all the difference.”
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had earlier revealed that only 4,756 out of 1,955,069 candidates — just 0.24% — scored 320 and above in the 2025 UTME, making the achievements of these students even more remarkable.
Education experts have praised the discipline and focus shown by these candidates, encouraging others to adopt similar habits of consistent study, vision-setting, and self-belief.
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