UTME Fraud: Innoson withdraws scholarship awarded to Mmesona

 

• Mmesoma didn’t open up to me on time — Father

 

Following the report by the Commission of Inquiry established by the Anambra State Government confirming Mmesoma Ejikeme manipulated her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result, Nigerian automobile manufacturer, Innoson Automobile Company has withdrawn the scholarship offered to her.

This was made known by the Head of Corporate Communications and Affairs, Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, on Saturday.

The eight-page report of the panel also recommended that Mmesoma immediately tender an unreserved written apology to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, the school (Anglican Girls’ Secondary School, Uruagu Nnewi), and the state government and should undergo psychological counselling and therapy.

The eight-member panel had been set up by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Wednesday to investigate the ongoing controversy between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Mmesoma, whose UTME result has come under controversy, with the mandate of making its findings public.

Osigwe said the company have been involved in the process of investigating allegations surrounding the 2023 UTME examination results Ejikeme.

He added that subsequent reports of discrepancies in her UTME score led the company to seek clarification from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and to allow her to voice her stance with a committee set up by the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

“In line with these principles and in response to the confirmed findings, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw the scholarship awarded to Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme. This action is a testament to our unyielding commitment to honesty, integrity, and merit-based recognition.

“We acknowledge that this development is regrettable, and it has undoubtedly caused dismay among those who stood by Miss Joy including her school principal and other well-meaning supporters. However, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of our scholarship program and the values it represents,” he said.

IVM added that it believes in rewarding exceptional students who display not just academic prowess but also embody the values of honesty, transparency, and respect for the processes that govern the educational system in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Romanus Ejikeme, father of Mmesoma Ejikeme,  has said his daughter didn’t confess her “crime” to him on time.

Romanus also pleaded with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Nigerians at large to forgive his daughter.

It would be recalled that JAMB had last Sunday accused Mmesoma of manually inflating her 2023 UTME result from 249 to 362. The embattled student had gone ahead to obtain a scholarship from Innoson, a scholarship which has now been withdrawn.

Despite multiple pleas by the Board, Mmesoma insisted her result was not forged and noted that she printed her result from the website of JAMB.

Following her insistence, the Board slammed a three-year ban on her with the House of Representatives calling for a stay of action.

Speaking in an interview with the Nigeria Television Authority, Mr. Ejikeme said, “My daughter didn’t open up to me on time. When I realised the mistake she did, I blamed her a lot but I’m still apologising to JAMB and Nigerians to pardon her.”

Many Nigerians who had earlier shown support for her began to withdraw support while others have started tendering unreserved apologies to the Board following her confession.

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has pleaded that she be sent for counselling with another former minister, Osita Chidoka who is the owner of the center where Mmesoma sat her UTME calling for a pardon for the candidate.