In a significant development, the House of Representatives has urged the Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB) to lift the ban on Ejikeme Mmesoma, allowing her to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This decision comes in response to allegations of result manipulation during this year’s examination. Additionally, the House has established an Ad-hoc Committee, led by Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), to thoroughly investigate the alleged manipulation, review JAMB’s facilities, and propose measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The committee is expected to submit its report within three weeks.
The motion, moved by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers), emphasized the importance of independent examiners cross-checking Mmesoma’s script to ascertain her actual score. Abiante highlighted that Ejikeme Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, Anambra State, had achieved a remarkable score of 362 in the 2023 UTME.
The controversy began when, on July 2, JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, publicly alleged that Miss Ejikeme Mmesoma had manipulated her UTME results, claiming that her actual score was 249 instead of the reported 362. However, Mmesoma vehemently defended herself, asserting that she had printed the result directly from the JAMB portal. She further highlighted her consistent academic excellence throughout her education, consistently ranking first in previous examinations. Consequently, she maintained that she was incapable of manipulating her UTME result.
It is crucial to recognize that electronic uploading and downloading of examination results in Nigeria can occasionally encounter glitches. Therefore, it is imperative to establish the facts before assigning blame. The House of Representatives aims to address these concerns and ensure the integrity of the examination process by initiating an investigation into the allegations raised by Dr. Fabian Benjamin. He had expressed concerns that some candidates in the 2023 UTME may be presenting counterfeit scores to gain an unfair advantage. This investigation will shed light on these allegations and uphold the credibility of the examination system.
By proactively addressing this issue and demanding a thorough investigation, the House of Representatives is demonstrating its commitment to maintaining transparency and fairness within the education sector. The outcome of this investigation will play a crucial role in determining the validity of the allegations, ensuring that deserving candidates are not unjustly penalized, and safeguarding the credibility of JAMB and the UTME.
As the examination season progresses, it is vital to prioritize educational integrity and trust in the evaluation process. The House of Representatives’ intervention serves as a reminder that any concerns or discrepancies should be thoroughly examined and resolved to uphold the sanctity of educational assessments. The committee’s findings will contribute to improving the examination system, preventing future irregularities, and protecting the interests of all candidates.
The House of Representatives has taken a commendable step by urging JAMB to lift the ban on Ejikeme Mmesoma and launching an investigation into the alleged manipulation of UTME results. This proactive approach will not only address the specific case at hand but also reinforce the commitment to fairness, transparency, and accuracy in the Nigerian education system.
