Unilorin, Nigeria's most sought-after varsity since 2012 – JAMB

Statistics obtained from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that a total of 411,340 candidates applied for admission spaces at the University of Ilorin between 2012 and 2016.

This figure, which represents 25.76 per cent of the total applications for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the period under review, makes Unilorin the most sought-after University in the country in last five years.

According to a report on “The 10 most sought-after universities in Nigeria in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016” published by Premium Times, a reputable on-line newspaper last weekend, Unilorin was the first choice of admission seekers for three years, 2013, 2014, and 2016, and only came second behind the University of Benin in 2012.

The newspaper, however, said that the figure does not include details for the 2015 admission exercise. But reports in the June 8, 2015 edition of Unilorin Bulletin indicated that a total of 107, 491 admission seekers chose the University of Ilorin during the 2015/2016 admission exercise, making the University the most preferred tertiary education institution that year. 

The University of Benin ranked second with a total of 331,178 or 20.56 per cent applications in the four years under review, while Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, had the third highest number of aggregate applications of 305,790 or 18.65 per cent

The fourth and fifth places were held by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the University of Lagos respectively.

Imo State University, Owerri, was the only state university that appeared on the ranking twice, that is 2012 and 2013.

A year-by-year break-down of the number of applicants into the first three universities during the period under review shows that in 2012, the University of Benin led the pack with 102, 900 candidates, representing 5.93 percent of total applicants nationwide; the University of Ilorin, with 97, 563 candidates (5.63%), came second while the University of Lagos, with 91, 291 (5.26%), placed third.

The tide, however, turned in 2013 when Unilorin has since consistently attracted the highest number of admission applicants.

In 2013, the University of Ilorin led the pack with 105, 507 candidates, representing 6.54 percent of total applicants, while the University of Benin, with 76,731applicants (4.76%), came second and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, placed third with 75, 642 candidates (4.69%).

In 2014, the University of Ilorin attracted a total number of 105, 032 applicants (7.12%) to place first while the University of Benin and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, placed second and third with 71, 273 candidates (4.83%) and 70, 430 candidates (4.77%), respectively.

In 2016, Unilorin, with 103, 238 admission applicants, representing 6.48 per cent, also came first in terms of popularity among prospective students, while the University of Benin, with 81, 363 candidates (5.11), and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with 75,383 candidates (4.73%), placed second and third respectively.

Although statistics of the 2017 UTME has yet to be officially released by JAMB, Unilorin Bulletin can authoritatively report that the University of Ilorin has once again emerged the most patronised institution by admission seekers this year with more than 104, 000 candidates applying to study in the University in the 2017/2018 academic session.

Our correspondent, who was part of the entourage of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), to the JAMB headquarters in Abuja recently, reliably gathered that tentative field reports from UTME registration centres all over the country put the University at the top of the most sought-after universities in this year's admission exercise.

Further investigation revealed that some of the factors considered by admission applicants before choosing their preferred institutions are academic stability, popularity, affordability, available facilities and quality of lecturers.

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