2023 UTME best candidate controversy: My daughter doesn’t have the capacity, capability to forge any result – Mmesoma’s father 

From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi

Recent media report that someone else who scored 360 in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is recognised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as the highest scorer has thrown Ejikeme Romanus’ family into confusion whose daughter, Joy Mmesoma, with 362 scores had earlier been reported and celebrated in the media as the highest scorer across the country.

But what is most painful to Ejikemes is JAMB’s recent declaration that Mmesoma’s result was fake with the resolve that she would be prosecuted.

Mr Romanus, a musician and part-time commercial motorcycle operator in Nnewi, Anambra State in an interview said that the family was surprised to get media reports that JAMB had recognised another candidate who scored 360 as the highest scorer in the 2023 UTME.

He queried how 360 can be above 362 in Mathematics.

“We were confused and embarrassed when we read in the media that my daughter who scored 362 in UTME is no longer the highest scorer instead another candidate who scored 360 is allegedly recognized by JAMB as the highest scorer.

“And to add salt to injury, they said my daughter faked her UTME result. There’s nothing like forgery of her result. Like others, she sent a message to the JAMB code requesting for her result and JAMB sent a message to her showing her 362 score. She got a scratch card and printed out the notification of result slip with the 362 score aggregade.

“Everybody saw the result and we celebrated it. My daughter was interviewed by journalists who published the feat in the media. It was everywhere even in the Facebook.

“But JAMB did not disclaim the result all this while until after over two months only to say that my daughter’s result was fake. Please, I want to tell JAMB that my daughter doesn’t have the ability and capacity to fake any result and she doesn’t work in JAMB office. Why did JAMB wait until after over two months before declaring that my daughter’s result was fake, if there’s nothing behind it?

“They traumatized my daughter and she has been crying every day. The entire family is in agony. Some of you journalists have seen my daughter and listened to her. Does she sound like someone who is not intelligent?” Mr Ejikeme asked.

He described his daughter as a book warm who would always remain awake studying when others were asleep. He said Mmesoma is intelligent and academically sound.

“From her nursery level to this moment she has been taking first position after every school examination.

“She started her education career at Ogbunike Central School, later to Oba Girls’ Secondary School and now at Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Nnewi where she continues her senior secondary level. In all these schools she has maintained her first position in every examination.

“Even the Principal of Oba Girls’ Secondary School wished that my daughter would continue with them and was ready to foot her transport fare from Nnewi to Oba every day. But we said because of the inconveniences. Mmesoma always represented the school in its outside competition and they never wanted to lose her, ” he narrated.

He said his family and others who are worried about the development are asking the investigation panels looking into the matter to unveil the truth for justice to prevail.

“We need explanations from the examination body because we are confused, ” Mmesoma’s father said.

As for Joy, she said she was very sad over the development.

“Why do they say someone who had 360 is the highest scorer whereas I scored 362. Is that a mistake or what?

“When the results were released I followed due process and printed out my own from JAMB online portal and I have the evidence. I need some explanations. I’m very sad about this. I always work hard for my exams. JAMB should look into that, ” she said.

2023 UTME best candidate controversy: My daughter doesn’t have the capacity, capability to forge any result-Mmesoma’s father

From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi

Recent media report that someone else who scored 360 in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is recognised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as the highest scorer has thrown Ejikeme Romanus’ family into confusion whose daughter, Joy Mmesoma, with 362 scores had earlier been reported and celebrated in the media as the highest scorer across the country.

But what is most painful to Ejikemes is JAMB’s recent declaration that Mmesoma’s result was fake with the resolve that she would be prosecuted.

Mr Romanus, a musician and part-time commercial motorcycle operator in Nnewi, Anambra State in an interview said that the family was surprised to get media reports that JAMB had recognised another candidate who scored 360 as the highest scorer in the 2023 UTME.

He queried how 360 can be above 362 in Mathematics.

“We were confused and embarrassed when we read in the media that my daughter who scored 362 in UTME is no longer the highest scorer instead another candidate who scored 360 is allegedly recognized by JAMB as the highest scorer.

“And to add salt to injury, they said my daughter faked her UTME result. There’s nothing like forgery of her result. Like others, she sent a message to the JAMB code requesting for her result and JAMB sent a message to her showing her 362 score. She got a scratch card and printed out the notification of result slip with the 362 score aggregade.

“Everybody saw the result and we celebrated it. My daughter was interviewed by journalists who published the feat in the media. It was everywhere even in the Facebook.

“But JAMB did not disclaim the result all this while until after over two months only to say that my daughter’s result was fake. Please, I want to tell JAMB that my daughter doesn’t have the ability and capacity to fake any result and she doesn’t work in JAMB office. Why did JAMB wait until after over two months before declaring that my daughter’s result was fake, if there’s nothing behind it?

“They traumatized my daughter and she has been crying every day. The entire family is in agony. Some of you journalists have seen my daughter and listened to her. Does she sound like someone who is not intelligent?” Mr Ejikeme asked.

He described his daughter as a book warm who would always remain awake studying when others were asleep. He said Mmesoma is intelligent and academically sound.

“From her nursery level to this moment she has been taking first position after every school examination.

“She started her education career at Ogbunike Central School, later to Oba Girls’ Secondary School and now at Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Nnewi where she continues her senior secondary level. In all these schools she has maintained her first position in every examination.

“Even the Principal of Oba Girls’ Secondary School wished that my daughter would continue with them and was ready to foot her transport fare from Nnewi to Oba every day. But we said because of the inconveniences. Mmesoma always represented the school in its outside competition and they never wanted to lose her, ” he narrated.

He said his family and others who are worried about the development are asking the investigation panels looking into the matter to unveil the truth for justice to prevail.

“We need explanations from the examination body because we are confused, ” Mmesoma’s father said.

As for Joy, she said she was very sad over the development.

“Why do they say someone who had 360 is the highest scorer whereas I scored 362. Is that a mistake or what?

“When the results were released I followed due process and printed out my own from JAMB online portal and I have the evidence. I need some explanations. I’m very sad about this. I always work hard for my exams. JAMB should look into that, ” she said.