22nd May, 2025
The Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Olanrewaju Sulaiman, has commended the exceptional performance of students from public secondary schools in Kwara State in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Professor Sulaiman, a former Minister of National Planning, described the high scores recorded by students of Ansarul Islam Secondary School and University of Ilorin Secondary School, both in Ilorin, as a reflection of the rising academic standards in public education under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration.
Among the top performers is ISSA Abdulwaris Atere, who scored 346, followed closely by Onagu Akeem Ahmad with 322, both from Ansarul Islam Secondary School. The most remarkable result came from Garba Mubarak Bukola of University of Ilorin Secondary School, who achieved an outstanding score of 362.
“These students have made Ilorin West, especially Ogidi Ward, and indeed Kwara State proud,” Professor Sulaiman said in a statement released by his media aide, Mohammad Abdulkadri. “Their achievements are a testament to the fact that quality education is not only possible in public schools, but is being delivered under the current state government.”
He urged the students to remain focused as they transition into tertiary education, encouraging them to sustain the momentum. He also offered words of comfort to candidates affected by technical glitches during the examination, assuring them that challenges like these do not define their academic future.
“There is always a path forward for every determined student,” he said. “No obstacle is insurmountable with resilience and the right support.”
The NILDS boss concluded by reaffirming his belief in the potential of Nigerian youth and the importance of continued investment in public education to unlock that potential.
