Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, publicly supports the sanctions imposed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Mmesoma Ejikeme.
Mmesoma was found guilty of faking her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.
The decision comes after the Anambra State Committee of Inquiry released a report confirming Mmesoma’s admission of manipulating her exam score using her mobile phone.
Despite the initial controversy surrounding Mmesoma’s result, with JAMB accusing her of changing her score from 249 to 362, Ezekwesili called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Now, with the release of the Anambra State panel’s report, which was signed by the Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, Ezekwesili expresses her satisfaction with the process.
She highlighted that Mmesoma was given a fair hearing.
JAMB responded to the findings by withdrawing Mmesoma’s result and banning her from taking the examination for the next three years.
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In a Twitter post on July 8, 2023, Ezekwesili announces her support for the sanctions imposed by JAMB.
She emphasized the need for deterrence against exam malpractice within the educational system.
She also recommends sustained counseling for Mmesoma, urging her family, school, and church to provide support during her reflection on this incident and to encourage a commitment to honesty and hard work.
Ezekwesili hopes that the lessons learned from this case will instill a renewed collective commitment among pupils, students, parents, guardians, and the public to uphold exam integrity as a fundamental value in Nigeria’s educational system.
She expresses gratitude to JAMB for their efforts and encourages the Registrar and his team to continue their critical service of raising awareness about exam integrity.
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Mmesoma and @JAMBHQ Saga:
I have just read the report of the Committee set up by 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 gather all facts.
It was necessary to have independent evidence that the result Mmesoma laid claim to publicly was not only fake 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 awareness on Exam Integrity.