Mmesoma used her phone to forge JAMB result– Committee Report

*Recommends psychiatric evaluation for her; Apologise to JAMB, School, Anambra State Government More revelations have come to light concerning the result authenticity tussle between the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) and Mmesoma Ejikeme, a candidate that sat for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exam (UTME). Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo had set up a committee to investigate the alleged falsification of results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination by Mmesoma Ejikeme, who last Wednesday confessed on television that the result she paraded (362) was actually not hers but she took advantage of a glitch in the system to claim it. The panel, in a report addressed to the Governor, said that it reviewed Mmesoma ‘s JAMB results and conducted interviews with relevant parties, including JAMB officials and other individuals involved. The report stated that JAMB officials led by Dr Fabian Benjamin, Head, Public Affairs, presented what specifically transpired between the candidate, Mmesoma with registration number: 20230639047FF in her quest to obtain her JAMB score. It said that Mmesoma, who hails from Anambra state, admitted to have manipulated her UTME results, deceiving the school, her immediate family and the state government. “The finding of the committee are that the results released by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board with respect to the UTME score of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma is 249. “The results paraded by Mmesoma with an aggregate score of 362 is fake as buttressed by the very instructive variations in the registration number, date of birth, centre name and other infractions. ‘”Mmesoma admitted that she manipulated the fake results herself, using her phone and proceeded to the cybercafé, Prisca Global Computers, Uruagu in Nnewi where she printed the results she had manipulated,” it said. The report recommended that Mmesoma should immediately tender an unreserved written apology to JAMB, the Anglican Girls’ Secondary school, and the Anambra State Government. It also recommended that Mmesoma should undergo a psychological counselling and therapy. “We hope that this unearthing of the truth as we have discovered will go a long way in correcting the sentiments, misconceptions and deceptions that have been in the public domain. “All prospective candidates for JAMB Admission should adhere strictly to guidelines, processes and procedures of the examination body,” the report stated. The report was signed by Prof. Nkemdili Nnonyelu and six others. See the full Report below: 7th July 2023 Prof. C.C Soludo, Governor, Anambra State. Mr. Governor, REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EJIKEME JOY MMESOMA’S JAMB SCORE CONTROVERSY Recall Mr. Governor that with the recent release of scores of candidates who applied for admission by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and subsequent announcement of Nkechiyere Umeh as the candidate with the highest score of 360, Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, a 19 year old student of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi, from Enugu State, protested to the State Government that she scored 362 and ought to have been so recognised. This has elicited interests and generated serious controversy and misgivings among the general public that the State Government in its wisdom decided to constitute a Committee of Inquiry to look into the underlisted terms of reference; Review Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s JAMB Results and associated documents Conduct interviews with relevant parties, including Elikeme Joy Mmesoma, JAMB Officials and any other individual(s) involved in the process. Provide recommendations based on the findings of the investigation. The Committee invited Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, the Principal of Anglican Girls Secondary School, and officials of JAMB for interactive session with the Committee. JAMB off Review Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s JAMB Results and associated documents Conduct interviews with relevant parties, including Elikeme Joy Mmesoma, JAMB Officials and any other individual(s) involved in the process. Provide recommendations based on the findings of the investigation. The Committee invited Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, the Principal of Anglican Girls Secondary School, and officials of JAMB for interactive session with the Committee. JAMB officials led by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Head Public Affairs presented the detailed processes and procedures involved in JAMB admissions, the policy changes that have occurred in the release of UTME scores since 2021 and what specifically transpired between the candidate Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma with registration number: 20230639047FF in her quest to obtain her JAMB score. JAMB revealed the different times that Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma made several requests to JAMB portal asking for her results at different hours, and each of these times (four in number), she received in her phone, same results from JAMB indicating candidate’s UTME Results to wit: Eng: 64, Phy:54, Bio: 74, Che: 57 with a total aggregate score of 249. JAMB disclosed that the candidate was well informed of her correct score from JAMB. Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma had sent a request to JAMB with a different registration number showing a UTME result of aggregate score of 362, with Eng: 98, Phy: 89, Bio: 94, and Che: 81. The results she sent differed substantially from the standard JAMB format where she got an appropriate rebuttal stating her real score of 249. Besides, a number of red-flags was also highlighted by JAMB officials showing a different date of birth, different Registration Number, Notification of results template that has been discarded since 2021, amongst others. It was also evident that even the centre name “Nkemefuna Foundation (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development as it was known before now) used for the examination was also manipulated where the candidate used the old name of the centre (Thomas Chidoka Centre for Human Development) in her own manipulated result sheet. In Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma’s submission, she 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. She also admitted to have given a manipulated result by herself unaided, using same phone Airtel Number. According to her, she proceeded to the cybercafé (Prisca Global Computers, Uruagu, Nnewi) where she printed the results she had manipulated. The Committee tried to find out the motive behind her action, but Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma

UTME Result: I actually got 249, not 362, Mmesoma finally confesses

Mmesoma Joy Ejikeme has said that she realized that she scored 249 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), instead of the 362 she printed.  The 19-year-old claimed her “results notification” slip for the UTME showing a score of 362 out of 400 was printed from the JAMB results portal. However, the board had argued that she is parading a forged result on a template it discontinued in 2021, that her official score is 249. On Tuesday, JAMB insisted that her result is “patently f@ke”, saying it had withdrawn her result and consequently barred her from writing the examination for the next three years. Appearing on the show on Channels TV Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, JAMB spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, revealed its records indicated the candidate had sent a series of messages to the board’s automated telecoms system, including the results showing an aggregate of 362. However, Mmesoma, who appeared with her father Romanus on the Wednesday edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, said she should not be blamed for the controversy. “It’s not my fault that I printed my result like that and they said that I forged my result. It’s not my fault. So, them banning it is not fair,” she said. Mmesoma said the only SMS she sent to JAMB was through its support system: “That’s the only SMS I sent there.” Asked if she got any feedback, she said, “They didn’t reply. If they check their JAMB Support System, they would see that I sent a text message. They didn’t reply.” On the claim that she used an Airtel line, Mmesoma replied: “Yes,” but she added it was “not through USSD code”.  “The one I checked through the USSD code is the one of 360 (sic) that I saw,” she explained further. Responding to the claim that the feedback from JAMB showed her score as 249, she agreed. “Yes,” she said. “After all said and done, I now saw that I got 249. I sent them a text message there to know what really happened — the JAMB Support System. If they go to their system, they will see it there.”

Set another test for Mmesoma, Ohaneze tells JAMB

The Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to bring Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme’s alleged results falsification case to rest by testing her with another examination. Miss Ejikeme, who is a former student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi in Anambra, celebrated her emergence as the candidate with the highest score in the year 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). JAMB, in a statement on Sunday signed by its Spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, however, accused Miss Ejikeme of inflating her results to curry favour, adding that the result would be withdrawn as she would have to face prosecution. Also on Tuesday, JAMB slammed a three-year ban on Mmesoma, insisting that her score was fake and manipulated. Speaking with newsmen in Owerri, on Tuesday, the Financial Secretary of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, Mazi Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, called on the examination board to put the matter to rest by resetting the examination for Miss Ejikeme. Arthur-Ugwa described the situation as `embarrassing’ to the candidate, JAMB, and Nigeria in general and called on the Board to immediately clear its image and that of the nation. He added that the allegation would come with negative psychological and emotional effects on Mmesoma. Arthu-Ugwa called on the body to “desist from causing harm” in any form or by any means on an innocent youth who had yet to be pronounced guilty by the results of ongoing investigations into the matter. “Only another examination supervised by independent observers will bring this matter to rest and we will avail ourselves to be part of the supervision if need be,” he said. According to him, the Board had never complained of any attempt to manipulate its website, hence the need for the board not to preempt investigations. “Only a few years back, JAMB told us how a snake swallowed a huge sum of money in one of its offices; today we are being told that the results of an examination that should admit students into our hallowed tertiary institutions can no longer be trusted for what they are. “JAMB must, as a matter of national importance, realise the seriousness of its role in society and stop being in the news for the wrong reasons. “If its management can no longer hold forth, then let the Federal Government overhaul the entire board and save our country and her people from needless embarrassment,’’ he said. Miss Ejikeme has denied the allegations, insisting that she scored a total of 362 marks in the examination as against JAMB’s 249, dding that she printed the result from the board’s portal. 

UTME: CIEPUK partners varsities, NAPSP to award scholarships to outstanding students

The Chartered Institute of Educational Practitioners, United Kingdom (CIEPUK) is set to partner several institutions and the National Association of Private School Proprietors’ (NAPSP) to award scholarship to outstanding students in the just concluded 2023 JAMB/UTME examinations. Prof. Marcel Ezenwoye, the National President of CIEPUK, said the gesture was a way of rewarding excellence and encouraging hardworking students in the country. He said it was also in line with the Federal Government’s policies on inclusive, affordable and accessible education under the able watch of President Bola Tinubu and his vice Shettima. “CIEPUK is partnering several universities both within and outside the country to offer 50 percent scholarship to JAMB/UME students, so that for a semester, they pay N60,000 as tuition fees, N30,000 for hostel and N5,000 as medical fees. “CIEPUK therefore invites Jambites and other admission seekers for categorised scholarship to enable them study the course of their choice in any of our collaborating public and private Universities and polytechnics in Nigeria and overseas, for 2023/2024 academic session. “The list of tertiary institutions involved in the scholarship programme include; Hipdet University, Cameroon, Gideon Robert University, Lusaka, Zambia, St. Monica University, Cameroon, Paul University, Awka, Tansian University, Umunya Anambra State and Maduka University, Enugu State. “Others are Covenant Polytechnic, Owerri, Temple Gate Polytechnic, Aba and Dorben Polytechnic, Abuja,” he said. Ezenwoye explained that the 50 percent scholarship would cover part of the student’s tuition, hostel and other fees throughout their four-year period in which they are expected to study in the University of their choice. He added that other students with lower scores would also enjoy the 50 percent scholarship in the university of their choice, provided they apply between now and August 30. The don added that CIEPUK was also partnering NAPSP in the scholarship programme. He said this was in recognition of the invaluable role that NAPSP play in moulding the future of these youths. “We therefore cordially invite all school owners/principals to partner with us in giving them quality higher education and a secured future devoid of strike, cultism, gangsterism and other forms of vices that characterise our educational institutions today. “CIEPUK, hereby offers 20 students each registered NAPSP members our 50 percent scholarship to all the incoming students in the 2023/2024 academic session. “Admission forms are already on sale and first scholarship/admission screening interview holds on August 30th, 2023 at the Old Registrar’s office, Paul University, Awka at 12 noon prompt. “You can go to our website www.ciepuk.org.uk to confirm the courses we offer as well as call 08069030670, 07030808907 or visit CIEPUK Educators House, 39A First Avenue, Gwarimpa, Abuja, for more information.

Sudan Crisis: JAMB rolls out modalities for absorption of returnee students

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has rolled out modalities for the absorption of returnee students from war-torn countries into Nigerian universities. This is disclosed in a statement by the board’s Head, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin and made available to newsmen in Abuja. Benjamin said the modalities were follow-ups to the high level meeting between the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Health, JAMB, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), National Universities Commission (NUC) and other critical stakeholders. He said the meeting was on the integration of returnee Nigerian students from war-torn countries into the nation’s tertiary education system. He quoted the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, while presenting the modalities as saying that it was imperative to hold talks with the Vice Chancellors following the peculiarities of each university and the variation in the responses received from them on the matter. Oloyede pointed out that the emergency meeting was, therefore, convened to fashion out uniform standards and minimum acceptable benchmarks for the proposed absorption in line with global best practices. He also stated that the Senate of each university had the right to decide on university transfers and needed not wait for JAMB to initiate such adding that the parley with the stakeholders was to present the modalities for critique as well as receive inputs. He reminded the Vice Chancellors to key into the earlier Advisory sent to universities on the procedures for processing applications for foreign and domestic inter-university transfers. He said that the current Advisory on the returnees does not override the earlier one but  rather served to reinforce it by strengthening the procedures for transfers. ”According to the latest Advisory on procedures for emergency transfers of returning students, each of them is mandated to do a retroactive registration with the education ministry. ”They are to visit the returnee application page on IBASS as accessible from the JAMB website, where the returnee students would upload their registration slips, complete the transfer of personal data. ”The personal data would include their name, NIN, telephone number, active e-mail account, current university, country, city of study and programme, year and current level of study, JAMB said. According to the new procedures, the returnee students would select their preferred university of choice, programme and upload the scanned copies of their current university admission letter, transcript, data page of their international passport and a sworn affidavit confirming the genuineness of uploaded documents. ”The returnee students are directed to click SUBMIT for onward movement to their university of choice, which would receive a notification as well as an IBASS  mail on the application for  evaluation of the returnee’s credentials. If the returnee is found worthy of admission, a notification is sent to him/her on the status of the admission. ”Consequently, successful returnees students would be directed via email and SMS to approach any JAMB Office in person to complete the inter-university transfer application,” he said. The registrar charged the Vice Chancellors to be vigilant and thoroughly scrutinise the certificates submitted to their institutions to avoid any pitfall that could impugn their hard-earned reputation. Stakeholders from the FME, NUC, NiDCOM and Vice Chancellors, who aligned themselves with the position of JAMB, promised to support the initiative.