Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board statistics released on Monday have shown that Lagos State University (LASU) is the most preferred institution among candidates seeking admission in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The figures, unveiled at the ongoing policy meeting in Abuja, indicate that LASU recorded 84,426 first-choice applications, accounting for 3.76 per cent of the total number of applicants nationwide.
University of Lagos (UNILAG) ranked second with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) placed third with 60,370 applicants.
Further breakdown showed that University of Ibadan secured the fourth position with 58,895 applications, closely followed by University of Benin, which recorded 55,425.
In sixth place, Nnamdi Azikiwe University attracted 54,085 candidates, while University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Nigeria, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), and University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) completed the top 10 list of most sought-after institutions.
The data underscores the sustained dominance of public universities in Nigeria’s admission landscape, reflecting candidates’ continued preference for established institutions amid intense competition for limited admission slots.
Education analysts say the trend also highlights mounting pressure on top-tier universities, as demand continues to outstrip available capacity across the country’s higher education system.
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