16-Year-Old Daniella Tops UTME, Showcasing Children’s Right to Education, Excellence
Sixteen-year-old Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin has emerged as the highest-scoring candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, scoring an impressive 372 out of 400.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board announced her result during its 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions in Abuja. Her achievement has sparked conversations on children’s right to education and the importance of safe learning pathways.
Daniella, from Ekiti State, sat for the exam in Ogun State. She hopes to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos. Her scores reflect consistent strength: 98 in English, 98 in Chemistry, 94 in Physics, and 82 in Biology.
Her journey was not without setbacks. During her first UTME attempt in 2025, technical issues disrupted her performance. However, she refused to withdraw from her academic goals. Instead, she rebuilt her preparation with stronger focus.
“This isn’t my first UTME,” she said. “I aimed for nothing less than 350, so I fixed my goal at 370+.”
Her determination highlights a key child rights principle. Every child deserves continuity in education, even after failure or disruption. Education experts say such resilience grows when systems protect learning environments and reduce inequality.
Daniella also credited her school for academic support. EFVP Wisdom Spring Model School played a key role in her preparation and confidence building.
Child protection advocates say her success shows what becomes possible when children receive steady encouragement, access to quality teaching, and safe examination systems. They stress that education should strengthen, not frustrate, a child’s development.
Daniella’s ambition goes beyond exams. She wants to study medicine to help the sick and reduce suffering. Her story now stands as an example of how education can shape purpose and future impact.
Other top candidates also performed strongly, showing rising academic achievement among young Nigerians.
