The Univerity of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State and the Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State were among the top-rated tertiary institutions of learning in the 3rd edition(2020) of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit Award (NATAP-M) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

At the ceremony which was held in Abuja on Thursday during the 2022 Policy meeting, the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Ilorin, Kwara State emerged as the 2020 Institution of First Choice for candidates for tertiary institutions in Nigeria and won N75 million for the award.

In the second place is Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State with a winning prize of N15 million while the 2nd runner-up place went to Bayero University (BUK), Kano, Kano State.

Besides, ABU also emerged top in the institution with the highest number of international students in 2020 admission while the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Maiduguri, Borno State and the Nile University, FCT, Abuja appeared as first and second runners-up winning N15 million and N10 million, respectively.

However, the faith-based institution, the Covenant University(CU), Ota, Ogun State topped the JAMB National Tertiary Performance Merit Award as the Most Compliant Institution in keeping to the guidelines in the 2020 admission exercise.

The University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State and the University of Maiduguri, Borno State won the second and third places winning N15 million and N10 million, respectively.

First place Covenant University, a private Pentecostal Christian University, which has been operating with official status since 2002 in Ota, Nigeria won N75 million for the coveted award.

In the other categories of the award, Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY), Kaduna State emerged as the most national institution in the 2020 admissions. The second and third places were won by ABU and Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State.

Besides, in 2020 most improved institutions in the gender balance category, Federal University, Lafia (FULAFIA), Nasarawa State, FCT College of Education, Zuba, FCT, Abuja and the Abia State University (ASU), Uturu, Abia State emerged in the first, second and third positions.

Recall that the 2022 NATAP-M Awards is the third edition and is meant for the 2020 Admission Session, which could not be in 2021 as most institutions were unable to conduct their admissions within the specified time frame owing to COVID-19 constraints.

For the 3rd edition, the Board obtained relevant approvals to increase by 150% the value of its previous Awards for maximum impact.

The 2nd Edition of NATAP-M Awards was held in 2019 while the maiden edition held in 2018 was meant for admissions conducted in 2017.