By Kamsi Anayo
Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, said she has adopted Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme, the embattled 19-year-old girl who forged her 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination result to emerge the highest scorer as her daughter.
The Commissioner made the proclamation while speaking after receiving “African Jewel of Human Capital and Educational Excellence award on Saturday in Awka, the state capital.
The award was presented to her by the Chairman, Editorial Board of FREENEWS Magazine, Published by Obev Industries Ltd., Port Harcourt, Mr Obinna Evaristus Mbonu.
She said she adopted Mmesoma to help her actualize her dreams in life.
Mmesoma, a student of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi, months ago, made the headlines after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board called her out for fraudulently manipulating her UTME score from 249 to 362, and falsely parading herself as UTME top scorer for 2023.
Before admitting the forgery, Mmesoma had engaged JAMB in accusation and counter-accusation, with the exam body slamming a three-year ban on her.
Speaking further, Chuma-udeh, revealed that she adopted her to see her through her schooling.
“She is not the first I am adopting. Even as a lecturer, I have been adopting children and training them through schools. Mmesoma is doing very, very well.
“She is still undergoing a psychotherapy class with the state appointed psychotherapist.
“I decided to adopt Miss Mmesoma to help her actualize her tall dreams. She is a human being, so we cannot throw her away like that. We are not going to let her down. We are still pleading with JAMB to reconsider her.
“Governor Chukwuma Soludo is very passionate about every citizen in the state. So we will train her through her education,” she said.
On the award, the Commissioner thanked the organisers of the award for recognising her, noting that the honour will spur her to do more for Anambra people.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Magazine Editorial Board, Mbonu, said the award was in recognition of the commissioner’s ability in driving the vision and mission of Gov. Soludo, in the education sub-sector.
