The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that Lagos State University (LASU) emerged as the most subscribed institution in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with 84,426 applications.
Data obtained from JAMB indicated that the University of Lagos (UNILAG) followed closely with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State, recorded 60,370 applications.
The University of Ibadan received 58,425 applications, while the University of Benin recorded 55,425 applications.
Others among the top 10 most subscribed universities are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, with 54,085 applications; the University of Ilorin with 52,514 applications; the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with 51,660 applications; the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, with 48,272 applications; and the University of Port Harcourt with 48,199 applications.
Among the polytechnics, Kaduna Polytechnic topped the list with 7,630 applications.
It was followed by the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, with 5,306 applications; Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, with 4,817 applications; Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), with 4,574 applications; and the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, with 3,425 applications.
Similarly, Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, Kaduna State, led the Colleges of Education category with 882 applications. It was followed by Yusuf Bala Usman College of Education and Legal Studies, Daura, Katsina State, with 691 applications, and Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, Kano State, with 663 applications.
JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this at the 2026 Policy Meeting held in Abuja on Monday. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and attended by heads of tertiary institutions across Nigeria, including vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts.
Prof. Oloyede observed that some institutions that had previously recorded low admission figures had now moved up the ranking.
He attributed the development partly to the recent resolution of issues surrounding the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strikes, which had often disrupted academic activities in some institutions.
He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr. Alausa, for the industrial peace and harmony that had returned to universities following the recent agreement between ASUU and the Federal Government.
