Mmesoma: Ezekwesili okays Anambra panel report, supports JAMB sanctions

Oby Ezekwesili

Ezekwesili supports JAMB sanctions against Mmesoma

Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, says she is satisfied with the findings of the Anambra State panel that investigated the controversy surrounding the result of Joy Mmesoma.

Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, Anambra State, had claimed to have scored 362 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

But the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) alleged that she manipulated her result to “deceive the public to fraudulently obtain a scholarship and other recognitions”.

The examination body said she scored 249 — and not 362.

Thereafter, the Anambra State government set up a panel of inquiry to look into the matter.

The Anambra panel said Mmesoma admitted to forging her result.

Commenting on the incident, Ezekwesili she said, “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.”

She posted this on Twitter on Saturday.

“There are usually syndicates at the centre 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,” she added.

Ezekwesili said Mmesoma’s action had consequences and that she supported the sanctions imposed by JAMB on her.

“I therefore support the sanctions imposed by JAMB as a deterrent to all who participate in the systemic exam malpractices within our educational system,” she said.

“I also recommend sustained counselling 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.”