Nigeria’s university admissions system stands as a formidable gatekeeper to the nation’s intellectual and economic future. Yet, rather than channelling talent and ambition into productive paths, the system often stifles aspirations, misallocates human capital, and perpetuates inequality. The process — rooted in rigid cut-off marks, institutional quotas, and inconsistent standards — has become less a meritocratic contest and more a lottery, leaving many students’ dreams at the mercy of opaque and outdated mechanisms.