Prospective university students have been urged to begin preparing early for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, and make careful decisions about their preferred courses and institutions to improve their chances of securing admission. The call was made at the 2026 Jambite Orientation Conference, JOC’26, organised by the YouCAN Empowerment Initiative on September 26, 2026, in Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. The conference, held at the DCIT Hub, Orita Ara, Tigbo Ilu, Ilogbo, brought together outstanding students who performed well in the 2026 UTME and other prospective candidates preparing for university admission.
Daniella Owoeye, the highest 2026 UTME scorer of 372, was among the students invited to speak at the event alongside other high performing candidates from the local government area. Owoeye shared her experience preparing for the examination, including the challenges she encountered and the number of hours she dedicated to studying. She also discussed her study routine and encouraged other candidates to take preparation seriously and start early.
A panel session led by Adeosun Tobiloba Michael, also known as Magislord and Lead Servant of Tower Africa, focused on helping students make informed choices about university courses and institutions. The panel included Mr Oni of Batmod CBT Centre, Mr Koseunti of Accolades Academy and Mr Owoeye, father of Daniella Owoeye. Students were advised to consider their UTME scores when selecting courses, particularly highly competitive programmes, to avoid making choices that could reduce their chances of gaining admission. Mr Oni also addressed preparations for the 2027 UTME, explaining the importance of starting early and adopting effective study habits ahead of the examination.The conference also highlighted the role of parents in supporting students academically.
Mr Owoeye urged parents to help their children establish reading timetables and develop consistency in their studies. He also highlighted prayer as part of the support students may receive during their academic journey. Meanwhile, Mr Koseunti advised parents and school proprietors against imposing university courses or departments on students without considering their interests and abilities. He said students should be allowed to participate in decisions concerning their academic future.
The conference was hosted under the leadership of Dotun Tobiloba Arogundade, known as Dotman, founder and president of YouCAN Empowerment Initiative, Nova Diadem and DCIT. JOC’26 ended with emphasis on four key principles for students preparing for tertiary education: discipline, consistency, early preparation and prayer.
