Olamide Aderibigbe, a 16-year-old student of Starville International School, Jabi, Abuja, has demonstrated exceptional academic brilliance by scoring an impressive 98 in Mathematics in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This remarkable performance in one of the most challenging subjects has earned him a total UTME score of 336, placing him among the top scorers in this year's exam.

Aderibigbe's scores in the other subjects were equally commendable, with 86 in Physics, 68 in English, and 84 in Economics. His father, Niran Aderibigbe, expressed his pride and gratitude to God in a chat with Punch, noting that his son hopes to pursue a degree in Architecture at either Covenant University or the University of Ibadan.

This outstanding achievement comes in a year when many candidates have struggled with the exam. According to statistics released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), just 12,414 of the over 1.9 million candidates scored 300 and above in the 2025 UTME, while only 4,756 managed to cross the 320 mark. This highlights the exceptional nature of Aderibigbe's performance.

For context, in the 2024 UTME, less than 8,000 candidates (about 0.5% of the total) scored above 300, reflecting a significant tightening in scoring standards over the years. JAMB released the 2025 results on Friday, May 9, with over 1.5 million candidates scoring below 200, widely regarded as the average benchmark for university admission.

The UTME tests candidates across four core subjects, each carrying a maximum of 100 marks, making a total of 400 possible points. While the Use of English is mandatory, students are free to choose three additional subjects relevant to their intended course of study.

Reacting to this year’s results, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, praised the scores as evidence of the government's ongoing efforts to reduce examination malpractice and improve academic integrity in the nation’s education sector.