Free UTME Forms Raise Candidates’Scores
Kunle Awosiyan
At least one Lagos candidate in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, has always emerged among every 10 highest scores in the last three years.
A report by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board shows that in 2023, a candidate, Gbolahan Ayinde from Lagos state scored 357 and he is among the 10 highest scores across the 36 states and the Federal Capiotal Territory.
Ayinde was three marks lower than the highest score by Nkechinyere Umeh from Anambra who scored 360.
(Table showing the positions and high scores UTME candidates in Lagos in four years)
In 2022, a Lagos candidate, Ajayi Eberechukwu Isaiah, was the fourth best candidate, a male, with registration number 10067858JC. He scored 349. He hails from Lagos and sat for the examination in Lagos.
In 2021, a candidate from Lagos,, Monwuba Chibuikem scored 358, according to the examination board in a statement issued at its policy meeting and that the score was the highest.
According to the document, Qomarudeen Alabi from Osun and Adeogun Oreoluwa from Ogun jointly came second as they both scored 350.
This Lagos position has been attributed to stiff competition due to the high number of registered candidates from the state. This high volume, investigation shows is due to the efforts of some Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in providing free UTME forms to brilliant indigent candidates.
This is according to the parent of one of the previous beneficiaries, Mrs. Olanrewaju Bamidele, a widow. She said that her daughter, Shekinat is now in 200 level at the Lagos State University but would have not got the opportunity if not because of the free UTME form given to her by the Amuwo Odofin Local Government. “I could barely boast N500 to feed daily but the government came to our aid with the free JAMB form, Bamidele said.
In 2023, according to JAMB, Lagos registered a total of 270,573 followed by Oyo 94, 911 and Ogun with 91,970 candidates at the close of the extended period of registration.
Echonews collated some of the free UTME forms given by local government and local council development areas, individuals, lawmakers and Non-Governmental Organisations as candidates prepare for 2024 UTME in a few weeks.
In 2023 UTME, Echonews gathered that about 6000 free UTME forms were given to indigent candidates by local government and local council development areas, which accounted for 18 per cent of the total number of registered candidates in the year.
For the 2024 UTME, our correspondent observed that the number of free form had risen by about 2000 more more than that of 2023. This is because more lawmakers, local government and local council development areas have joined the scheme.
At present the number of free UTME forms given to candidates is about 9000 by the estimation of our correspondent,
For instance, a federal lawmaker, representing Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency Olawande Adegeye, presented 1000 free UTME forms to indigent youths.
Beneficiaries cut across major groups like: Christian and Muslim Associations, Resident Associations, Professional Groups. Market Associations, Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, and other political parties. Adegeye, popularly called ‘Omogeye’ by his followers and political admirers, while giving out the forms to beneficiaries, stressed that it was part of measures to uplift the educational standards among the demography of youth in the area.
He said it was purely an avenue to help as many youths as possible in the constituency with bright prospects to attain their set goals through education. 
According to Adegeye tertiary education has the potential of building a virile and viable community but the major setback encountered by many families is financial constraints.
He said“It is targeted at ensuring that more deserving youths have equal opportunities to pursue higher education. That is the main reason behind this initiative to provide free JAMB forms to indigent youths.
“It is geared towards alleviating the financial burden many families had to bear within the constituency and to ensure that a good number of youths are not denied the opportunity to further their education due to financial constraints.”
At Mushin Local Government, the Chairman Emmanuel Bamigboye, gave free UTME forms to hundreds of indigents candidates.
Though he refused to mention the number, he said the gesture would assist those who may not have the means to pursue their dreams of higher education.
Bamigboye said, “”I count it as a sense of pride and purpose to embark on a noble mission to empower the indigent students of the community with free JAMB Forms as educational palliative, in order to assists their parents.
He added that significant steps are taken towards ensuring that every deserving student has a fair chance to excel academically.
“The JAMB forms that we are distributing will serve as a passport to a world of knowledge, growth and endless possibilities, with the aim to enable our students in Mushin compete on an equal footing with their more privileged peers,” he said.
He added that his administration will not relent in providing the best for youths and students in all ramifications.
About 200 indigent students were given the forms by the Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mrs. Funmilayo Muhammed, saying she has contributed to their academic pursuit.
The council boss stated that the forms would give beneficiaries the zeal to pursue their academic dreams for greater career in future.
She implored them to do away with the social media for now and focus on studies to achieve success that will make the LCDA and their parents proud.
To her the distribution of the free JAMB forms is part of the dividends democracy encapsulated in APC led administration.
A lawmaker representing Kosofe constituency 2 in the Lagos state House of Assembly, Hon. Femi Saheed also provided 400 free UTME forms to candidates in his constituency, saying that he had done so to pave way for more medical doctors, engineers, financial experts and other professionals in Nigeria have influenced his decision to distribute free 400 Jamb forms to indigent students in the constituency.
Tagged Femi Saheed Education Support Initiative ( FSESI). the lawmaker said education is the best legacy a society could bequeath her youths for prosperity, saying that the initiative was to grow more skilled and knowledgeable youths that would add value to societal development.
Saheed, who acknowledged the shortage of manpower in the health sector, said that he was certain that out of the beneficiaries there would be trained medical doctors, structural engineers and financial experts who would scale up the shortage currently suffered.
The chairman of Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA),Hon, Dele Oshinowo, distributed free UTME forms to 500 indigent students in the council area.
To him, the distribution of the forms aligned with his administration’s commitment to developing education in the council area.
“Today, we are distributing UTME forms to 500 indigent students in Agboyi Ketu. The forms are meant for those students who cannot afford them. They are the indigent ones, so we are doing this to uplift them. We are giving them this opportunity because if they do not sit for the UTME, there is no way they can go to the university. What we are doing today is to give equal opportunity to all the students in the council area. We are sure that so many students are financially challenged and so, we are doing this to support them,” Oshinowo said.
In Oshodi/Isolo area of Lagos, a lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo constituency 2,Okey-Joe Onuakalusi gave free UTME forms to 300 students.
He said that the initiative marks not just a fulfillment of a campaign promise but a step towards reshaping the educational landscape of the constituency.
“The distribution of free JAMB forms in Oshodi/Isolo 2 is a testament to a deeper commitment towards educational development. The beneficiaries, a mix of hopeful youths, have been given more than just examination forms; they’ve been entrusted with a responsibility to excel and to justify the faith placed in them. This is not just about passing an exam; it’s about proving that we can be the leaders this community needs,” he said.
In Ikeja Local Government, a foundation, the LOK Foundation doled out free UTME forms to 500 youths, describing the gesture as an effort to eradicate poverty at the grassroots.
The founder and CEO of LOK Foundation, Engr. Luqmaan Olabode Kehinde Akerele, alluded that the reason for forming the foundation in 2019 was to promote and improve the quality of life of the people at the grassroots level and education is an integral part of it.
He noted that the free UTME form is an annual event and it is the fifth since the formation of the foundation.
However, the former Lagos State House of Assembly candidate further encouraged the beneficiaries not to let him down but make judicious use of the JAMB form by studying well so as to get high scores to gain admission and come out of their respective schools with flying colors.
In Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, the current supervisor for education Hon. Ogungbo Temitope Sofwan flagged off the free tutorial classes and distribution of UTME form to over 200 candidates .
He said the initiative was geared towards complimenting the efforts of the Council Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Hon. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa on education.
The Vice Chairman, Chief Hakeem Olalemi, Lagos Central Senatorial District of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also distributed 70 free UTME forms to indigent students in Surulere.
To him education remains a powerful weapon to reset the society, hence the need to invest heavily in it. “Today, I have just distributed 70 UTME forms to indigent children in our communities in Surulere Constituency 1 of Lagos State to give them opportunity to pursue their educational dreams.
Olalemi said that the free UTME forms were distributed to children of PDP members and other less privileged children drawn from the six electoral wards in the constituency.
(LGA/LCDA/NGOs Free UTME Form Table)
In Ikorodu Local Government Area, a federal lawmaker Babajimi Benson who facilitated a free form scheme said that 120 indigent candidates had benefited from the free UTME forms.
Tagged, “Oba Ayangbure Free JAMB Form”a former Executive Assistant (EA) to the Governor of Lagos State who is also the donor Prince Yommy Olusegun Shopitan said that the gesture extended to the 120 students who are residents of Ikorodu Division, is part of efforts to give back to the community.
Speaking on his expectations from beneficiaries, Prince Shopitan charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity by passing their JAMB examinations and gain admissions into various institutions of higher learning, and also emerge as professionals in their field of studies.
The Executive Chairman of Itire-Ikate LCDA, Hon. Ahmed Olanrewaju Apatira, distributed free UTME forms to 250 beneficiaries within the district.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the market groups, religious bodies, political parties, artisans and the physically-challenged.
The Council chairman urged beneficiaries to invest quality time studying in order to record success in the examinations to be able to advance in their learning.
“Our administration recognises the importance of education hence our investment in the sector. This initiative is a testimony to our administration’s commitment to ensuring that quality education is accessible to all.”
Hon. Apatira urged the beneficiaries to concentrate on their studies and aspire for excellence in their educational pursuits while calling on parents and guardians to encourage their wards to focus on their studies.
Another federal lawmaker, representing Alimosho Federal Constituency, Hon. Ganiyu Adele Ayuba (Mayor K.K.), also joined the number of free UTME form donors, adding that he embarked on the programme because there are many students with outstanding potential from low-income households who may wish to continue their education beyond secondary school but whose parents cannot afford the fees.
The Federal lawmaker, who also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Interior, believes that education is the cornerstone of a sustainable society. He expressed this belief to the applicants during his speech at his Constituency office, telling them that he would reward the top three candidates among the beneficiaries in the UTME exam to further encourage them to do their best.
(Chairman of the Conference 57 Chairmen in Lagos State, Hon. Kolade Alabi David)
Orile Agege LCDA Chairman, Johnson Babatunde gave out 200 free forms to the UTME candidates while enjoined them to be dedicated to their studies, burn the midnight candles, go through several past questions and pray that at the end of it all, their efforts will be crowned with success.
The chairmen of Eredo LCDA, Monsuru Akinloye, Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, Wale Anomo and member representing Epe constituency II, in the Lagos Assembly, Sylvester Ogunkelu also announced the offer of free UTME forms to students in their councils area and constituency respectively.
This initiative is part of the effort by stakeholders in the Epe division to provide free access to educational opportunities for students in the division, giving them a level playground with their peers in other Local Governments and States in the Federation.
Akinloye announced the distribution of Free JAMB/UTME 2024 forms to 100 students in his LCDA, who cannot afford but are eligible while Anomo has directed that 500 free UTME forms be given to indigent residents and indigenes of Ikosi-Ejinrin interested in sitting for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Ogunkelu, on his part, announced to offer 750 free 2024 JAMB forms to qualified youth in the constituency which is an excellent opportunity for the youth of Epe Constituency II to further their education and build a brighter future for themselves and their community.
The All Progressives Congress chairmanship aspirant for Ejigbo LCDA, Prince Daniel Olusegun Oduse (DOO) also doled out forms to indigent students of the community.
Oduse gave out free 60 UTME forms, adding that the purpose of the free UTME forms is to provide a positive impact on students in the community he wish to serve.
The chairman of Lagos Island, hon. Prince Tijani Adetoyese Olusi said that his administation also gave out free UTME forms, however he did not mention how many. Olusi said the best legacy you can give a child is qualitative education urging the beneficiaries to study and come out victorious in the exam.
The Chairman, Badagry Local Government, Mr Olusegun Onilude, gave 200 free forms Onilude saying that his administration is committed to making education accessible to all.
A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Ejalonibu Foundation also gave 400 free UTME forms in Badagry. Mr Ismaila Wusu, the founder of the Foundation said the motive behind the gesture was to support candidates who could not afford it.
According to him, Badagry is an historical town where civilization started, but we are not where we should be in Nigeria.
“So, we believe the only thing that we can use to gain access to where we belong is education.
In Somolu Local Government Area, a federal lawmaker, Ademorin Kuye offered 500 free UTME forms to residents. He said the Educational Support Initiative (ESI) which started in 2018 was aimed at giving the masses in his constituency equal opportunity for education.
One of the beneficiaries, Adelaja Oyinkansola, a graduate of Eva Adelaja Senior Secondary School, Bariga thanked the donor for the gesture.
For Osho Babatunde, another beneficiary, the initiative has restored hope to many who are financially challenged.
Mrs. Olanrewaju Bamidele, a widow who is the mother of one of the beneficiaries, described the gesture as “timely.” “The gesture is a good one and I pray that God continues to give him the needed grace to sustain it, especially amongst many of us, who really do not have much in Amuwo Odofin who could not afford to ensure their children further their education. “A parent that could barely boast of having N500 to feed daily now got a form for his or her ward which is worth close to N10,000 or more you can imagine how happy such a parent will be,” Bamidele said.
Miss Promise Owoyemi, one of the beneficiaries, applauded the council boss for the forms, saying it would help actualise her dream of going to the university.
Also, Master Abdul-Gafar Adekoya, another beneficiary, thanked the chairman for the forms, saying the distribution meant the chairman cared about the future of young people in the council area.