• Whiz kid who scored 372 says he started preparation in SS1
By Gabriel Dike
One of the top scorers in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), 15-year-old Azoyenime Samuel Chukwuemeka, said he actually targeted 380 and that he started early enough in his SSI. He ended up scoring 372. He attended Isaac Newton School, Matogun, Oke-Aro, Ogun State
Azoyenime, from Ika South Local Government, Delta State, told Daily Sun that he started preparing for the UTME in SS1, used his school App and practiced how to use CBT for several hours each day: “I leave the school around 8.00pm or 10.00pm after school hours preparing for the UTME.”
He wrote the UTME at WAEC CBT Centre, Ogba, Lagos. He was nervous, had to review Chemistry on his way to the centre: “Not that I was scared that I would fail but fear of seeing questions I did not read.” His mum supported him to study and at times forced him to go to bed:
“My target in 2025 UTME was 380. From 2024, I began to follow the trend of high scores in UTME. From the trends, the scores were getting higher and higher every year.
“I saw my UTME result first and I did not believe it was mine. Under aged results were released separately. I broke the news first to my mum and she called my dad to inform him. She came to the school to inform them about my score.
“My classmates, teachers and neighbours have been congratulating me. I chose Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Aerospace Engineering as a course. I searched for the leading field in Engineering, and AI brought up Aerospace Engineering.
“My parents did not force me to choose the course. In May/June 2025 WASSCE, I am expecting 9A1, which is what I am working towards. My best subject is Physics.” Azoyenime acknowledged that his Church, Deeper Life, played a significant role in his life.
He said his school has qualified teachers and the environment is conducive for learning. He revealed that Victor Nwaegbo, his senior, who scored 334 in 2024 UTME, was the best in the history of the school and vowed to beat his record.
In the 2025 matriculation examination, he scored Physics 98 Chemistry 98 Mathematics 98 and English 78 and his performance attracted the attention of the media and Nigerians.
Three other students in the school recorded high scores. Jegede Oluwanifemi Taiwo, scored 335. The breakdown are English 71, Chemistry 90, Physics 94 and Biology 80, he intend to study Medicine and Surgery at University of Ibadan, Chukwuemeka Ekene Samuel, recorded 321, English 68, Chemistry 79, Physics 86 and Mathematics 88. He wants to study Software Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University and Ismail Umar-Farouk Anjolaoluwa, obtained 299. The breakdown is English 61, Chemistry 81, Physics 83 and Biology 74. He intends to study Pharmacy at Olabisi Onabanjo University.
Azoyenime’s other academic feats
In 2021/2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Azoyenime got A1 in all the subjects, in Basic classes; he took first position and won over 20 prizes. In Basic 4 and 59, participated in the Young Mathematics competition, placed 4th, in JSS, he went for Our Generation Foundation inter-state competition, took 3rd position, in JSS 111, he participated in Dagogo Mathematics competition meant for SS students and placed 13th nationwide, in SS 1. He repeated the feat and came 4th nationwide and placed 3rd in Dagogo Mathematics competition.
For about three weeks after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released the UTME results, many looked towards the direction of the 15 -year-old Azoyenime as the top scorer and his school was very cautious to admit it and celebrate him.
Currently, Azoyenime, is the third best candidate in the 2025 UTME. The highest score is 374, followed by 373. They are under 17 and are mainly science students.
School proprietor tells own story
Proprietor of the school, Mr. Oludele Tanimowo, said: “From the onset, we let our students know that they will not use ‘expo’ during exam and it will be their sole efforts in the exam centers.
“We started extra classes in October 2024 to prepare the SS111 students for UTME, WASSCE and the National Examinations Council (NECO) SSCE examinations. Students in the hostel were camped for the UTME and WASSCE, 6.00am to 8.00pm everyday.
“Most of the brilliant students, who recorded high scores and some with low scores, would still secure admission into the universities. There are people who believe that a student cannot write an exam without external help. In this school, we don’t encourage exam malpractice and I recommend stiffer sanctions for schools and teachers found wanting.
“The secret of our students’ success in the 2025 UTME is our regular practice on how to use the computer and solving past exam questions. The students went through over 60 questions for different years of UTME. After a long tutorial, we end it up with two hours of CBT practice.
“UTME is easier than WASSCE. Pen and paper exams are challenging. Our students practiced 1978 to 2024 past JAMB questions. I tutored them on Mathematics, Physics and Further Mathematics. They did excellently well in the three subjects.”