Following Mmesoma’s confession and the findings of the investigation, Innoson Group makes a decision.
The state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, appointed an eight-person team on Wednesday to look into the commotion.
Following the conclusion that Mmesoma Ejikeme falsified her results for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Anambra State Government withdrew the scholarship it had previously granted her.
On Saturday, Cornel Osigwe, the Innoson Group’s Head of Corporate Communications and Affairs, made this information public.
The top scoring in the 2023 UTME, according to Miss Mmesoma, a student at the Anglican Girls Secondary School in Nnewi, Anambra State, was 362.
The ‘feat’ earned her praise from Nigerians on social media, including the Anambra State Government.
Later on, the candidate will get an N3 million scholarship from Innocent Chukwuma, the founder of the Innoson firm.
However, JAMB accused the applicant of inflating her UTME marks from 249 to 362, accusing her of doing so. The applicant claimed, however, that the mark that showed up on the JAMB website and in the SMS that the board sent to her was 362.
The testing company then withdrew the applicant’s initial UTME score, and she was barred from reapplying for the exam for the ensuing three years.
However, Miss Mmesoma, the applicant, stated in a widely shared video on Monday that the contentious result of 362 she claimed to have received was printed off the JAMB website and that the test body’s accusations had scarred her.
Several Nigerians called for an “independent” investigation into the controversy.
Consequently, the Anambra State Government, last week, set up a panel of inquiry into the controversy.
The eight-member panel, led by Professor Nkemdili Nnonyelu, concluded on Friday that Miss Mmesoma had fabricated the 362 scores that the JAMB had earlier claimed.
The candidate acknowledged, as stated in the eight-page report, that she had fabricated the outcome on her own before going to a cybercafé to have it printed.
Given that Miss Mmesoma received the scholarship from Innoson Motors in acknowledgment of her allegedly outstanding achievement, the company’s spokesperson, Mr. Osigwe, called the discovery that she cheated on her UTME results “deeply disappointing.”
According to him, the candidate’s manipulation of the results “stands in direct contravention of the values” of the organization.
“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.
