A total of 217 secondary school students across the five local government areas in Ogbomoso Zone participated in a Pre-JAMB examination sponsored by education enthusiast, Femi Onireti, in collaboration with the Ogbomoso Progressive Elite Club (OPEC), as part of efforts to strengthen academic preparedness ahead of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The examination was simultaneously conducted on Thursday, January 22, 2026, across the five LGAs in the zone—Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Orire, Ogo Oluwa, and other adjoining areas—ensuring wide coverage and access for aspiring tertiary institution candidates.
Participation and Demographics
Of the 217 candidates who sat for the test, 130 were female (60%), while 87 were male (40%), reflecting a higher level of female participation. The average age of participants was approximately 17 years, indicating a largely uniform age bracket among the candidates.
Overall Performance Snapshot
The examination recorded an average total score of 16.99 out of 40, translating to an average percentage score of 42.48%. Among the four papers tested, English Language emerged as the strongest subject, with an average score of 7.54, significantly higher than the other three papers, which recorded average scores ranging between 3.06 and 3.36. This trend suggests relatively stronger language proficiency compared to other subject areas.
Local Government Performance Breakdown
Ogbomoso North posted one of the strongest performances overall, recording an average total score of 17.98, second only to candidates grouped under the “Others” category. The LGA stood out particularly in English Language, with an impressive average score of 8.27, well above the overall mean. Consistent results across other papers and a relatively lower average age of 16.33 years point to early academic readiness among candidates from the area.
Ogbomoso South followed closely with an average total score of 17.02. Candidates from the LGA demonstrated fairly balanced performance across all subjects, with a slightly stronger showing in Paper 3 (3.40). Accounting for 26.74% of total participation, Ogbomoso South made a substantial contribution to the overall outcome, combining moderate achievement with significant candidate numbers.
Ogo Oluwa recorded a moderate average total score of 15.68. While performance in Paper 1 (3.34) was comparable with other LGAs, lower scores in Paper 2 (2.83) and Paper 3 (2.85) affected the overall average. With an average age of 17.04 years, performance differences appear to be influenced more by subject preparedness than age.
Orire LGA ranked next with an average total score of 14.68, the lowest among the LGAs highlighted. Scores were consistently lower across subjects, particularly in English Language (6.35) and Paper 2 (2.59). Interestingly, Orire recorded the highest average age (17.47 years), suggesting that age alone does not necessarily translate into stronger academic performance.
Building the Path to UTME Success
Organisers described the exercise as both an assessment and intervention tool, designed to expose candidates to examination conditions while identifying learning gaps ahead of the main UTME. Education stakeholders have commended Femi Onireti and OPEC for the initiative, noting that such data-driven preparatory programmes are vital for improving students’ competitiveness and guiding targeted academic support.
The Pre-JAMB examination is expected to serve as a foundation for follow-up tutorials, mentorship, and strategic academic interventions aimed at raising overall performance across the Ogbomoso Zone.
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