Former Minister of Education,Obiageli Ezekwesili has given up her support for Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme, the Anglican College Student who inflated her scores in the 2023 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB Examination.
JAMB had declared the result of Mmesoma as fake saying that the candidate scored 249 instead of the 362 she paraded.
But the 19- year – old girl held onto her grounds in a viral video where she played the victim and feigned ignorance of forgery.
In the course of JAMB’S insistence on its integrity and the public debate the inflated scores generated, some Nigerians expressed concern about the danger of forgery while some towed ethnic line and supported the school girl.
Notable among those whose views impinged on the integrity of JAMB was Ezekwesili. Ezekwesili had demanded an independent forensic investigation over Mmesoma’s video
According to the former minister, hearing Mmesoma’s side of the story made it imperative for a forensic investigation to reveal what happened.
However, Ezekwesili turned around immediately and supported JAMB after Mmesoma confessed to the crime and soon after the Anambra state committee of Inquiry proved that Mmesoma forged the JAMB result.
JAMB was established by Decree No 2 of the Federal Military Government of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
It was created in response to the growing demand for a centralised, transparent, and efficient process for admission to Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
The examination board since its establishment 48 years ago has operated without a celebrated forgery of this kind.
The board which gave an accurate account of how the 19- year -old manipulated her result, punished Mmesoma with a 3- year ban after the video for faking innocence and claiming that she got the inflated scores from the JAMB result portal.
So, why did Ezekwesili not stick to her forensic investigation? A scholar, Nicholas asked.
He added”,Matters of forgery are offences that should not be swept under the carpet. Our big men and women should stop playing the ethnic card and stand in defence of our national institutions.
Another Nigerian ,Mabelle, a lab scientist said ” Thank God that JAMB has been vindicated otherwise, with the Japa syndrome, Nigeria ‘s tertiary education certificates would have an integrity question mark”
