The Lagos State Government has announced that candidates seeking admission into its state-owned universities must score a minimum of 185 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), rejecting the 150 benchmark recently approved by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, disclosed the state’s position during a ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the second term of Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Sule stated that the 150 cut-off mark approved nationally by JAMB was too low for Lagos State universities and inconsistent with the academic standards the state intends to maintain across its tertiary institutions.
According to him, none of the three state-owned universities in Lagos would admit candidates who scored below 185 in the UTME.
“To us in Lagos State, the cut-off marks approved by JAMB are too low for our universities. We will continue to maintain standards that reflect the quality of education we are known for,” he said.
The commissioner explained that although JAMB introduced the 150 benchmark to accommodate varying educational realities across different geopolitical zones, Lagos State would not lower its admission requirements.
He argued that Lagos could not be grouped among states facing severe educational disadvantages, stressing that the state’s universities must continue to uphold competitiveness and quality.
“For JAMB to approve 150 out of 400 obtainable marks is quite low. Lagos cannot reduce its standards simply to align with states dealing with different educational realities,” Sule added.
The development means candidates seeking admission into Lagos State-owned universities will still be expected to meet stricter admission benchmarks despite JAMB’s national minimum requirement for the 2026 admission exercise.
The decision has also reignited conversations around disparities in educational standards, regional realities, and admission policies across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
