Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, has shared her reaction to the findings of the committee established by Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo to investigate the saga between JAMB and Ejikeme Mmesoma regarding her UTME result.
Ezekwesili expressed her support for the sanctions imposed by JAMB on Mmesoma, seeing it as a necessary deterrent against exam malpractice within the educational system. The committee’s investigation revealed that Mmesoma had forged her claimed score of 362, whereas her actual score was 249. Ezekwesili expressed satisfaction with the process and findings of the committee, emphasizing that Mmesoma was given a fair hearing. She recommended ongoing counseling for Mmesoma by her family, school, and church, highlighting the need for her to reflect on the episode and embrace values of honesty and hard work.
Ezekwesili hoped that this case would serve as a lesson to all stakeholders, including students, parents, and the public, to prioritize exam integrity as a fundamental value in Nigeria’s educational system. She expressed gratitude to JAMB for their efforts and encouraged them to continue raising awareness on the importance of exam integrity.