The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in partnership with Rite Foods Limited, has concluded the maiden edition of the Rite Foods National Academic Excellence Awards for 2026. Held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at the Civic Centre, Lagos, the ceremony awarded ₦35 million to Nigeria’s brightest new undergraduates from the 2025 admission exercise.

1. What is the JAMB-Rite 2026 Award?

The award is a joint initiative between JAMB and Rite Foods Limited to “recognise the best-performing matriculating students from the 2025 admission exercise across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones”.

Selection Criteria

The seven awardees emerged after an aggregate assessment of three metrics:

1. UTME score – Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
2. SSCE results – Senior School Certificate Examination
3. Post-UTME / Institutional screening performance 

Structure of Awards: 6 students represent Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones + 1 student from the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group for Persons with Disabilities.

Each winner received a cheque of ₦5 million, totaling ₦35m in prizes. The cheques were presented by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by Dr Ismaila Adiatu, alongside JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede and Rite Foods MD Saleem Adegunwa.

2. Full List of JAMB-Rite 2026 Award Winners

Medicine and Surgery + Software Engineering dominated this year’s list, claiming 6 of the 7 top honours.

The University of Lagos was the only institution to produce two awardees. UNILAG produced both the South-West zonal champion, Okeke Christian, and the top-performing candidate living with a disability, Ogunsua-Dixon Tijesuni.

3. Course & Institution Trends

1. STEM Dominance: Software Engineering had 3 winners, Medicine and Surgery had 2, Mechanical Engineering 1, and Mass Communication
2. ederal Universities Led: Winners came from FUT Minna, FUASK Kachia, FUTO, UNIMAID, UNIUYO, and UNILAG.
3. Geopolitical Spread: Every zone was represented, ensuring national coverage.

4. Ceremony Details & Dignitaries

The maiden edition was described as a “high-profile event” with over 300 guests expected. Attendees included education administrators, university vice chancellors, government officials, corporate executives, and media.

Notable dignitaries present:

•  Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar, JAMB
• Saleem Adegunwa, Managing Director, Rite Foods
• Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, represented by Dr Ismaila Adiatu

JAMB said the programme “reflects a shared commitment with Rite Foods Limited to encourage academic excellence and reward deserving students across the country”.

5. Why This Award Matters for 2026/2027 Aspirants

• Merit is Being Rewarded: JAMB emphasized a “rigorous, transparent, and merit-based selection process”. It’s not a raffle. Your UTME + SSCE + Post-UTME aggregate count
• Inclusion for PWD Candidates: The 7th slot specifically honours the highest-performing admitted candidate living with a disability.
• Corporate-Academic Partnership: Rite Foods’ sponsorship shows more private sector players are funding academic excellence beyond government scholarships.

JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the initiative “underscores the shared commitment of both organisations to promoting academic excellence, rewarding merit and inspiring young Nigerians”.

Ace your exam! Get post UTME past questions

Conclusion

The JAMB-Rite 2026 Awards set a new benchmark for celebrating Nigeria’s top freshers. With ₦5m each, the 7 winners from UNILAG, UNIMAID, FUT Minna, FUTO, FUASK, and UNIUYO are now national role models.

For JAMB 2026/2027 candidates across Nigeria, the message is clear: exceptional performance across UTME, SSCE, and post-UTME can still attract major cash rewards and national recognition.

Are you a 2025 admission student who missed this? JAMB says this is expected to become an annual Academic Excellence Recognition Award. Stay prepared.