2026 UTME: Alausa honours 108 gifted children, urges focus on innovation
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has urged exceptionally gifted Nigerian students to use their academic abilities to develop innovative solutions to national challenges and contribute to global advancement.
Alausa gave the charge in Abuja on Wednesday while recognising 108 candidates below the age of 16 who met the Federal Government’s stringent requirements for exceptional admission consideration following the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
He described the students as exceptional talents whose intellectual abilities, if properly nurtured, could position them to make significant contributions to Nigeria’s scientific, technological and economic development.
“You are the ones that will change Nigeria and the world with your innovations,” the minister told the candidates.
He stressed that academic excellence should go beyond obtaining certificates, urging the students to focus on research, innovation and practical solutions capable of improving lives and addressing pressing societal challenges.
Alausa explained that although Nigeria maintains a minimum admission age of 16 for tertiary institutions, provisions exist to recognise exceptionally gifted younger candidates who satisfy the established academic and maturity requirements.
He said about 39,000 candidates below the age of 16 sat the 2026 UTME, but only 391 scored at least 320 out of 400 marks, representing 80 per cent.
He said further assessments, including post-UTME performance, O’Level results and screening for psychological, emotional and intellectual readiness, narrowed the number of qualified candidates to 108.
The minister noted that the rigorous process was designed to ensure that exceptional academic performance was matched by the maturity and preparedness required to cope with the demands of tertiary education. The successful candidates, he added, represented a tiny fraction of the millions of young Nigerians who took the examination.
Alausa also described Nigeria’s youthful population as a major asset for national development, noting that about 70 per cent of the country’s population is below the age of 30. He said the Federal Government was implementing education reforms to improve opportunities for young Nigerians and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to national growth.
Congratulating the candidates on behalf of President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Education, the minister expressed confidence that their talents could translate into innovations with far-reaching benefits for Nigeria and the international community.
He also urged tertiary institutions admitting the students to provide supportive learning environments that would encourage their intellectual development and enable them to realise their potential.
The candidates received awards of honour in recognition of their exceptional performance in the 2026 UTME.