On Saturday, Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, gave counseling advice to troubled Anambra student Ejikeme Mmesoma, who has been charged by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for falsifying her 2023 UTME results.
According to the findings of an impartial panel of investigators appointed by the government of the Anambra state, Mmesoma admitted to faking her results on her own.
The examination Board was criticized by Ezekwesili for exposing Mmesoma, according to a previous article in The Spectator. She also demanded an impartial probe.
In contrast, Ezekwesili said in a statement published on her Twitter account on Saturday, “I have just read the report of the Committee established by the Anambra State Government to investigate and report their independent conclusions on the Mmesoma and JAMB debacle.
“I am satisfied with the process and findings of their investigation which gave Mmesoma a 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.”
