The University of Ilorin had the highest number of admission applications for any university in Nigeria between 2012 and 2016, admission statistics from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board show.
The figures obtained by PREMIUM TIMES reveal the 10 most sought-after universities in Nigeria in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
It contains no details for 2017.
The ranking shows UNILORIN was first choice for admission seekers for three years, and only came second behind University of Benin in 2012.
In all four years, the school had 411,340 or 25.76 per cent total applications for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The University of Benin ranked second with a total of 331,178 or 20.56 per cent applications, while Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, had the third highest number of aggregate applications of 305,790 or 18.65 per cent.
The fourth and fifth places were held by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and University of Lagos respectively.
Imo state University, Owerri, was the only state university that appeared on the ranking twice, that is 2012 and 2013.
See table below:
2012 UTME APPLICATION STATISTICS BY INSTITUTION
TOP NINE INSTITUTIONS
(UNIVERSITIES)
| S/N | INSTITUTIONS | TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS | PERCENTAGE | 2012 POSITION |
| (%) | ||||
| 3 | UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY | 102900 | 5.93 | 1ST |
| 5 | UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN | 97563 | 5.62 | 2ND |
| 1 | UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS | 91291 | 5.26 | 3RD |
| 2 | NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA | 90767 | 5.23 | 4TH |
| 4 | UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA. | 83018 | 4.78 | 5TH |
| 6 | OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE | 72547 | 4.18 | 6TH |
| 7 | AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA | 57088 | 3.29 | 7TH |
| 8 | UNIVERSITY OF UYO | 52861 | 3.05 | 8TH |
| 9 | IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OWERRI | 55834 | 3.22 | 9TH |
| S/N | INSTITUTIONS | TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS | PERCENTAGE | 2012 POSITION |
| (%) | ||||
| 3 | UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY | 102900 | 5.93 | 1ST |
| 5 | UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN | 97563 | 5.62 | 2ND |
| 1 | UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS | 91291 | 5.26 | 3RD |
| 2 | NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA | 90767 | 5.23 | 4TH |
| 4 | UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA. | 83018 | 4.78 | 5TH |
| 6 | OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE | 72547 | 4.18 | 6TH |
| 7 | AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA | 57088 | 3.29 | 7TH |
| 8 | UNIVERSITY OF UYO | 52861 | 3.05 | 8TH |
| 9 | IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OWERRI | 55834 | 3.22 | 9TH |
2013 UTME APPLICATION STATISTICS BY INSTITUTION
TOP TEN INSTITUTIONS
(UNIVERSITIES)
| S/N | INSTITUTIONS | TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS | PERCENTAGE | 2013 POSITION |
| (%) | ||||
| 1 | UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN | 105, 507 | 6.54 | 1ST |
| 2 | UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY | 75642 | 4.69 | 2ND |
| 3 | NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA | 76731 | 4.76 | 3RD |
| 4 | UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA. | 68945 | 4.27 | 4TH |
| 5 | UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS | 60603 | 3.76 | 5TH |
| 6 | OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE, | 58310 | 3.62 | 6TH |
| 7 | AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA | 48213 | 2.99 | 7TH |
| 8 | IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OWERRI | 45169 | 2.8 | 8TH |
| 9 | UNIVERSITY OF JOS, JOS | 42417 | 2.63 | 9TH |
| 10 | UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, | 41115 | 2.55 | 10TH |
2014 UTME APPLICATION STATISTICS BY INSTITUTION
TOP TEN INSTITUTIONS (UNIVERSITIES) – FIRST CHOICE
| S/N | INSTITUTIONS | TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS | PERCENTAGE | 2014 POSITION |
| (%) | ||||
| 1 | UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN, ILORIN | 105032 | 7.12 | 1 ST |
| 2 | UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, BENIN CITY | 71273 | 4.83 | 3 RD |
| 3 | NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA | 70430 | 4.77 | 2 ND |
| 4 | UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA. | 66577 | 4.51 | 4 TH |
| 5 | UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS | 62125 | 4.21 | 5 TH |
| 6 | AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA | 56585 | 3.84 | 7 TH |
| 7 | UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN, | 46812 | 3.17 | 10 TH |
| 8 | BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO | 45454 | 3.08 | NOT IN TOP TEN |
| 9 | OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, | 43037 | 2.92 | 6 TH |
| ILE-IFE, | ||||
| 10 | UNIVERSITY OF UYO, UYO | 40005 | 2.71 | NOT IN TOP TEN |
2015 UTME APPLICATION STATISTICS BY INSTITUTION
TOP TEN INSTITUTIONS
(COLLEGES OF EDUCATION) – FIRST CHOICE
| 2015 POSITION | INSTITUTIONS | TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS | PERCENTAGE | 2014 POSITION |
| (%) | ||||
| 1 | COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, AZARE | 3751 | 0.254202 | 1 ST |
| 2 | FED. COLLEGE OF EDUC. ZARIA | 2047 | 0.138723 | 2 ND |
| 3 | FED COLLEGE OF EDUC. (TECH.) POTISKUM | 1867 | 0.126525 | 3 RD |
| 4 | FED COLLEGE OF EDUC. (TECH.) GOMBE | 1562 | 0.105855 | 4 TH |
| 5 | COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, AKWANGA | 1279 | 0.086677 | 5 TH |
| 6 | COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, GIDAN-WAYA, KAFANCHAN | 1164 | 0.078883 | 6 TH |
| 7 | FCT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZUBA, | 771 | 0.05225 | 7 TH |
| 8 | KASHIM-IBRAHIM COLLEGE OF EDUC., MAIDUGURI | 551 | 0.037341 | 8 TH |
| 9 | FED. COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, KANO | 479 | 0.032461 | 9 TH |
| 10 | FED. COLLEGE OF EDUC. PANKSHIN, | 473 | 0.032055 | 10 TH |
2016 UTME APPLICATION STATISTICS BY INSTITUTION
TOP TEN INSTITUTIONS
(PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES) – FIRST CHOICE
| S/N | INSTITUTIONS | TOTAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS | PERCENTAGE | 2016 POSITION |
| (%) | ||||
| 1 | University of Ilorin, Ilorin | 103238 | 6.48 | 1 ST |
| 2 | University of Benin, Benin City | 81363 | 5.11 | 2 ND |
| 3 | Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria | 75383 | 4.73 | 3 RD |
| 4 | University of Nigeria Nsukka | 65954 | 4.14 | 4 TH |
| 5 | Bayero University, Kano | 64220 | 4.03 | 5 TH |
| 6 | Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka | 61862 | 3.89 | 6 TH |
| 7 | University of Lagos | 60659 | 3.81 | 7 TH |
| 8 | University of Ibadan, Ibadan, | 59176 | 3.72 | 8 TH |
| 9TH | Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife | 45924 | 2.88 | 9 TH |
| 10 | University of Jos, Jos | 40366 | 2.54 | 10 TH |
Source: premiumtimesng.com
