Mmesoma Ejikeme has lost the Innoson Vehicles N3 million scholarship award after an inquiry committee in Anambra revealed she forged her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.
Mmesoma Joy, a Student of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi came under fire last week after JAMB flagged her result as fake.
The incident generated lot of controversies leading to the setting up of a panel to investigate Mmesoma’s result.
On Friday, the panel released its findings, stating that Mmesoma admitted to manipulating her scores.
In a statement issued on Saturday,8 July, Cornel Osigwe, the Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Vehicles, explained that the company made the “difficult decision” to revoke the scholarship “in response to the confirmed findings.”
“In recent days, we have been engaged in an investigation regarding allegations surrounding the 2023 UTME examination results of one of our scholarship recipients, Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme.
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“Initially, it was reported that Miss Joy had achieved exceptionally high scores on the exam, which led to her being awarded a scholarship by our company,” the statement read.
“However, subsequent reports of inconsistencies in her UTME score compelled us to seek clarification from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“To give her an opportunity to present her side of the story, we engaged in direct dialogue with Miss Joy.
“As a further step, an independent committee appointed by Anambra State Governor, Dr. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, conducted a thorough investigation into this matter.
“The results of this rigorous investigation have now confirmed that Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme did indeed manipulate her UTME results.
“This conclusion is deeply disappointing and goes against the values we hold dear at Innoson Vehicles, particularly those that underpin our scholarship program.
“In line with these principles and in response to the verified findings, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the scholarship awarded to Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme.
“This action demonstrates our unwavering commitment to honesty, integrity, and recognizing merit-based achievements.
“We understand that this development is regrettable and has undoubtedly caused disappointment among those who supported Miss Joy, including her school principal and other well-meaning individuals.
“However, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of our scholarship program and the values it represents.”
Innoson Vehicles reiterated its dedication to supporting deserving students and investing in Nigeria’s education sector.
The company had previously stated that it would rescind the scholarship if Mmesoma was found to have manipulated her results, stating that “if we find she is innocent of the accusation, then the scholarship stands, whether she is the best or not.”
