By: Olamide Ojuokaiye
The case of the Jamb Candidate Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme who insisted that the 362 score in her Jamb result was the original result obtained from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which has since been disputed by the exam body, has made the informed and educated look uninformed and cannot decipher the truth, even when the narratives by the examination body that defects were noticed from the result brandished to the public by the teenager.
The crux of the matter which is her claim of scoring the highest score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in May 2023 which has been disputed by the examination body, has garnered wide arrays of public comments and inquest by both the Anambra State Government and Federal Lawmaker’s has reached its crescendo with the recent discovery that the student of the Anglican Girls Secondary School (AGSS), Nnewi, Anambra State has manipulated her result.
Mmesoma, the first child in a family of four reveals in an interview this week said,” My dream is to become a pharmacist or a medical doctor. And I have always studied and worked hard to achieve it.” While alluding she has always been one of the brightest students from her primary to secondary education academic records.
Mmseoma hopes to become a successful person in a noble profession, as it is understood her father makes his living as a commercial bike rider as a way to make ends meet.
However, her lofty dreams as being hit with a heavy blow as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) disclosed Mmesoma’s result as a fake and suspended her from sitting for the exams for three years.
The social media were agog with divided interest on the saga for some, they believe the malpractice was perpetrated with loopholes whilst some lambasted the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for ineptitude turning it into an attempt to malign the candidate as it was perceived to be an ethnic agenda.
Sadly, a lot of people still who have lost faith in agencies of government never look through and listen to experts who have explained the discrepancy in the result belonging to the candidate.
“This innocent face Mmesoma Ejikeme is not guilty of any result forgery” fills the comment and airspace when the issue is talked about.
The overwhelming narrative given by the JAMB spokesperson fell on deaf ears. But, those with a voice of reasoning never back down looking at all the framework of the examination body’s modus operandi and the results of candidates released, that of Mmesoma is different as it Carries a notification of the result with her personal information there-in with no passport photograph missing at the top corner of the result she is parading as hers.
The hierarchy of JAMB led by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede who stand tall in integrity and professionalism, a forthright Patriot that has chaired the examination body that in her history, posted revenue of N5 billion into the nation’s coffers had mandated an internal check, reiterates that the result is a fake and manipulated report wasted no time to lay it out that Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme should be barred for three years from partaking in the examination.
When reading through the independent committee instituted by Dr. Charles Soludo to investigate the result saga in her report, it is wise that one needs to exercise restraint by reading through certain situations before jumping to a conclusion.
The independent committee in its report highlighted that Jamb officials through their portal saw how the candidate had attempted to assess her result at different times and hours through her mobile phone (four times) which she got the aggregate score of 249 before she sent another result to jamb with a score which differs from her original score.
Albeit, further development has it that Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma has owned up in the presence of her principal, and the Education Secretary that the narration by the JAMB officials was a true and correct description of what transpired. Interestingly, she admitted to having given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using the same phone Airtel Number. While detailing how she proceeded to the cybercafé where she printed the results she had manipulated.
Mmesoma disclosed to be a party to the result forgery that has garnered tons of comment which once again brought up if this is a case targeted at her and the South East being marginalized.
See how we as humans should not defend what we do not know how it comes about? This Jamb Saga has taught one a lesson to never follow the mob as it takes two to tango in most cases.
Most Nigerians who have maligned, lambasted, cursed, and passes slurred messages to the leadership of JAMB while all they assume is it’s an ethnic agenda to tarnish the candidate from the South East, need to take a back seat and ask again if their assertions are correct. While the moral fabric of society seems to have no relevance in the present state we live in, the home and school are also losing the battle to have disciplined, well-mannered, and cultured wards that would not tarnish the family’s image and that of the state into disrepute.
For Mmesoma Ejikeme, I wonder how the family, the School Principal of the Anglican Girls Grammar school, Nnewi, and the Anambra State Government would accept the shame and unnecessary spotlight beaming upon them as the triangle of controversy gained prominence in the week.
While the recommendation from the independent committee by the Anambra State Government has suggested that Mmesoma should be subjected to Psychological tests and also write an apology letter to JAMB, one can only wonder if the body will take back the 3 years penalty placed upon her, or press further for more punishment for putting the institution’s image into disrepute.
Let’s not forget, the overall best candidate for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is Deeper Life High School (DLHS) student, Miss Nkechiyere Umeh, with a score of 360 set her apart as a candidate that is worthy to be celebrated as she has been rewarded with a monetary gift worth N2.5M.
Similarly, the Deeper life school produced 3 more students alongside Miss Nkechiyere, who were also high flyers namely; Andrew Imokhugede with 355 marks and the 10th-best student nationally, Alagwu David, who scored 351, and Esin Enobong, who scored 350.
In a society like ours where dishonesty seems to thrive with shortcuts fast gaining prominence among the youths, beaming the spotlight on Nkechiyere Umeh at this moment will help obliterate the bad pressing and perception of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) image with a message that, there is a reward for academic excellence as this performance is recognized as it will be a springboard to achieving greater heights in life.
Nonetheless, parenting at the home front has a lot to do with imbibing core values of discipline, hard work, Integrity with zero tolerance for shortcuts is the noble path to living a noteworthy life.
While life is not over, Mmsoma needs all the support that is available to turn a new leaf, study, and be shown the right paths to live a worthy path so she can become the woman of her dreams, a noble pharmacist or Doctor who will rightfully practice saving lives.
