In response to the recent findings of the committee established by Anambra State governor, Charles Soludo, to probe the dispute between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Ejikeme Mmesoma over her UTME result, Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, has expressed her thoughts on the matter. Ezekwesili has voiced her support for the sanctions imposed by JAMB on Mmesoma, emphasizing the need for such penalties to discourage exam malpractices within Nigeria’s educational system.
The committee’s investigation revealed that Mmesoma had falsified her reported score of 362, which she claimed to have achieved in the UTME, in contrast to the authentic score of 249. Ezekwesili has indicated her satisfaction with the investigative process and the committee’s findings, highlighting that Mmesoma received fair treatment during the proceedings.
Taking to her verified Twitter account on Saturday, the former minister stated her belief in the importance of continued counseling for Mmesoma, emphasizing the roles of her family, school, and church in providing support. Ezekwesili stressed the significance of the committee’s independent evidence, demonstrating that Mmesoma personally orchestrated the forgery of her UTME result. Furthermore, she noted that unlike typical cases involving syndicates, Mmesoma seemed to have acted independently.
Ezekwesili underscored the repercussions of Mmesoma’s actions and reiterated her endorsement of the sanctions imposed by JAMB, emphasizing their deterrent effect on individuals engaged in exam malpractices within the education system. Additionally, she recommended ongoing counseling for Mmesoma to help her reflect on the incident and make choices aligned with integrity, while shunning dishonest gains in the future. The former minister expressed her hope that this case would serve as a lesson for pupils, students, parents, guardians, and the public, fostering a collective commitment to upholding exam integrity in Nigeria as an essential pillar of the country’s values and reward system for children and youth.
Ezekwesili extended her gratitude to JAMB for its diligent work and encouraged the Registrar and the entire team to continue their crucial service to the nation. She called for sustained efforts in raising awareness about the importance of exam integrity, rallying support from all citizens to join hands with JAMB in this endeavor.
