A former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, says she is backing the sanctions imposed on Mmesoma Ejikeme by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for faking her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.
According to the report of the Anambra State Committee of Inquiry which confirmed that the student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi admitted that she manipulated her result using her phone
While the controversy over Mmesoma’s result was raging with JAMB insisting that she manipulated her result changing her actual score of 249 to 362, Ezekwesili had insisted that a proper investigation into the matter must be carried out.
With the report of the Anambra State panel which was signed by the Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, indicting Mmesoma, the former education minister said she is satisfied with the process which gave the student a fair hearing.
Ezekwesili said she is satisfied with the process and the findings of the committee which gave Mmesoma fair hearing.
In a statement via her verified Twitter handle on Saturday, the former Minister recommended a sustained counseling for Mmesoma by her family, school and church.
She wrote, “I have just read the report of the Committee set up by the Anambra State Government to investigate and report their independent findings on the Mmesoma and JAMB Saga.
“I am satisfied with the process and findings of their investigation which gave Mmesoma fair hearing to enable the Committee to gather all facts.
“It was necessary to have independent evidence that the result Mmesoma laid claim to publicly was not only faked but that the forgery was personally orchestrated by her.
“There are usually syndicates at the center of perpetration of exam malpractices in Nigeria but it appears not to be so in Mmesoma’s case from the facts of the Committee’s report.
“Mmesoma’s action has consequences. I therefore support the sanctions imposed by JAMB as a deterrent to all who participate in the systemic exam malpractices within our educational system.
“I also recommend sustained counseling for Mmesoma by the family, school and church to support her as she reflects on this tragic episode and makes a decision to embrace values and rewards of effort while eschewing dishonest gain for the rest of her life.
“I do hope that the lessons of this case will help all our pupils, students, parents, guardians and the public at large renew a collective commitment to uphold Exam Integrity in Nigeria as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s Values and Reward System for our children and youth.
“I wish to thank JAMB for their good work and encourage the Registrar and his team to continue with their critical service to our country and people as we all join them to sustain raising of awareness on Exam Integrity.”
