The Anambra State Government has established a panel of inquiry to investigate allegations of result manipulation by Ejikeme Mmesoma in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the State Commissioner for Education, announced the formation of the panel in a statement on Monday.
Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, Anambra, had been in the spotlight after claiming to have scored 362 in this year’s UTME. However, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) refuted her claim, stating that she actually scored 249 in the exam. JAMB accused her of manipulating her result to deceive the public and fraudulently obtain a scholarship and other recognitions. The board vowed to prosecute Mmesoma and others involved in result manipulation.
In response to the controversy, the commissioner described the situation as embarrassing and confirmed that a panel of inquiry had been established to work with security agents in investigating the allegation of result falsification. She emphasized the importance of integrity in the education sector, particularly at a time when Governor Chukwuma Soludo is focused on repositioning education in the state.
The Anambra State Government had previously awarded a scholarship to Nkechinyere Umeh, the overall best candidate in the 2023 UTME, who scored 360 in the examination.
