The recent case of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma's alleged fake JAMB score has sparked controversy and garnered attention on social media platforms. Joint Administrations and Matriculation Board (JAMB) accused Miss Ejikeme of manipulating her UTME result to fraudulently attract scholarship and recognition. However, women advocacy groups, Women Support Women Community Network (WOSCONET) and Anambra Women General Assembly (AWGA), have raised questions about JAMB's claims and expressed concerns over their silence regarding the media backlash against Miss Ejikeme. These groups are now calling on the Anambra State Government to investigate JAMB's database to determine the possibility of manipulation.
According to JAMB's statement, Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma manually inflated her UTME result from 249 to 362, using the inflated score to secure a N3 million scholarship from Innoson Motors. The Anambra State Government was set to award her before the forgery allegations emerged. However, Cornel Osigwe, the Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson Group, has called for an investigation into the allegations of result forgery against Mmesoma Ejikeme. Osigwe believes there is more to the story and questions the claim that she manipulated her result, highlighting her academic prowess and challenging the motive behind such an action.
Women advocacy groups WOSCONET and AWGA have called on the Anambra State Government to launch an investigation into JAMB's database to determine whether manipulation has occurred. They emphasize the importance of supporting individuals with outstanding academic performances and urge Nigerians not to lose trust in such individuals while awaiting the investigation's outcome. These groups condemn JAMB's prolonged silence on the matter and question why they failed to clarify the situation earlier, before Miss Ejikeme had attracted sponsors.
Public reactions to the allegations against Mmesoma have been mixed, with individuals taking to social media platforms to defend her. Some have criticized JAMB's handling of the situation, questioning the board's ability to maintain the credibility and standard of their exams. Speculations have arisen, suggesting that JAMB tampered with Mmesoma's result, possibly out of jealousy over the scholarship awarded to her by Innoson. Social media users express concerns about the procedural lapses and organizational ineptitude displayed by JAMB and call for accountability.
Critics argue that JAMB's press release repeatedly mentioning Anambra State instead of addressing the credibility of their own exam raises suspicion. They assert that even if the allegations were true, JAMB and the media should have exercised restraint and protected Mmesoma from public damage. They refer to the Child's Right Act, which prohibits the publication of identifying information about a child involved in criminal allegations or judicial proceedings. They call on Anambra State authorities, including Governor Prof. Charles Soludo and relevant commissioners, to protect Mmesoma's image and take necessary action against JAMB for its alleged misconduct.
The Head of Corporate Communications, Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, has also called for an investigation into the allegations of certificate forgery against Mmesoma Ejikeme, the top scorer of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Cornel Osigwe also made a post via his official Twitter handle, @cornelosigwe said, “The girl I met doesn’t have the brain and capacity to manipulate her result. There is more to this story. A proper investigation needs to be done. Abeg let the poor breath"
“That girl was one of the most brilliant in her school, according to the Principal, her parents couldn’t even afford to pay for her WAEC and NECO Exams. Of what advantage will it offer her to manipulate her JAMB score? Let the poor breathe pls.” said Cornel Osigwe.
For Mr Daniel Ukwu, the Executive Director Daniel Ukwu Leadership Foundation; "Most embarrassing to Nigerians even the small girl.How can she manipulate her result.This is not right, exposing this girl is unfair to humanity. This is how Inec results were manipulated by the candidates.Jamb is an institution should be held responsible not any person or state. We are really finished with fake people in high position of authority. Jamb must first apologize to Nigerians for their duty failure.Not shifting blame is unacceptable by Jamb.The price for nepotism leadership. Big disagrace from Jamb.Can they be trusted moving forward" he said.
According to "Omenyi" "It is rather curious and very suspicious that JAMB in their press release kept on mentioning Anambra State repeatedly, instead of apologizing to Nigerians for their inability to maintain the standard and credibility of the exam they conducted?
How can the small girl fake the result that was electronically generated from JAMB website??"
"I think that JAMB has tampered with the result of this small girl, by reducing her result from their database or backend server. They are jealous of the 3 million naira Innoson gave the girl"
"JAMB should be ashamed for their obvious procedural lapses and organisational ineptitude ness to manage such a simple exam, and measure candidates' grades properly"
"Anambra state government should follow up on this matter to its logical conclusion. Miss Ejikeme is an underaged/Minor who deserves legal protection from cyberspace bullying and media trial, by a well known fraudulent institution like JAMB, whose immediate past registrar, Dibu Ojerinde (from Oyo State) is still facing criminal charges in the court"
"Assuming without conceding, that the girl is guilty (which I seriously doubt) of the spurious allegation, JAMB and other news media that published this news should have exercised restraint and reasonable duty of care in protecting the image of the girl from being subjected to public damage"
"The Child's Right Act clearly provides that no person shall publish the name , address, school, photograph or anything likely to lead to identification of a child in connection to any criminal allegation or judicial proceedings"
"In this regard, JAMB as an institution and PUNCH newspapers have erred, and should be reprimande".
"The Anambra state governor, Prof Charles Soludo, the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-udeh and the that of Women Affairs, Mrs Ify Obinabo should rise up to this challenge; and muster every available instrument of coercion the state can muster, to protect this young girl whose image is being dragged to the mud"
"The management of JAMB Should be dragged to court for to explain the mode of conduct and release of Exam results to Nigerians"
Kester Uder disclosed that Mmesoma got 362 when she first checked her results.
WOSCONET and AWGA, prominent women advocacy groups in Nigeria, have voiced their concerns over the alleged fake JAMB results involving Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma. They question JAMB's claims, criticize their silence during the media backlash, and call on the Anambra State Government to investigate JAMB's database for possible manipulation. Public reactions on social media platforms reflect a mixed sentiment, with some defending Mmesoma and criticizing JAMB for its handling of the situation.
Amb. Mrs Amaka Nweke JP, President, Anambra Women General Assembly (AWGA).
Mrs Valentina Enih, Co-founder, Women Support Women Community Network.
Mr Daniel Ukwu, the Executive Director, Daniel Ukwu Leadership Foundation.
Igumbor Faith, Publicity Secretary Women Support Women Community Network (WOSCONET).
Mrs Amaka Chiedozie, Publicity Secretary, Anambra Women General Assembly (AWGA)
