The Sokoto State Government has announced plans to support a 16-year-old orphan, Muhammad Abubakar, following his outstanding performance in the 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
Muhammad attracted attention after recording an aggregate score of 353 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), despite losing both parents at a young age.
As gathered, the teenager was received at the Sokoto State Ministry of Higher Education after the state JAMB Coordinator, Ibrahim Hassan, facilitated his visit to the ministry following the discovery of his story online.
According to the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Iya, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Isa Maishanu, directed the state JAMB coordinator to contact Muhammad after learning about his academic achievement.
Maishanu praised the student for maintaining his academic focus and showing determination despite the loss of his parents.
The commissioner said the ministry would assess Muhammad’s circumstances and determine the appropriate intervention to help him continue his education.
Muhammad’s UTME result showed that he scored 92 in Mathematics, 67 in English, 98 in Physics and 96 in Chemistry.
His West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result also contained three As, four Bs and one C, while his Biology result is still pending.
Muhammad is seeking admission to study Mechatronics Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in line with his ambition to become a Mechatronics Engineer.
The ministry said the proposed intervention was consistent with Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s education priorities under the administration’s nine-point Smart Agenda.
It added that the government would explore the necessary assistance to support Muhammad’s educational journey, while commending the state JAMB coordinator for helping to bring the student to the ministry.