Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo has directed that the student who inflated her score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Mmesomma Ejike, be handed over to a psychologist for counseling.
The governor’s directive was contained in a letter he sent to the Principal of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School at Nnewi, the student’s school, through the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
Soludo also directed the immediate commencement of counseling and therapy for Mmesomma, who admitted last Thursday that she manipulated the results she paraded.
The governor had set up an eight-member committee comprising six professors to examine the controversy and report back to him.
On Friday night, the committee released its findings and found Mmesoma Ejikeme guilty of forgery.
The girl’s father, Romanus, had apologised to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Anambra State government and the country, saying his daughter deceived him.
He said his family was not contesting the outcome of the government panel.
Mr. Ejikeme said,
“All I can do is to plead for leniency. As everyone knows, this is her first attempt to sit for JAMB examination.
“She admitted to the findings of the panel and I plead with JAMB to forgive my daughter and let her continue her education. She wants to study.
“I also plead with the public to consider her age and forgive her too. She is our daughter. We cannot throw her away…
Also, an activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, said Mmesoma had attempted suicide over her misdeed.
In a viral video he released at the weekend, Gwamnishu said;
“Today, I came to see Mmesoma because I received a message from her crying that she wanted to commit suicide.
“I spoke with her father, who called me. I was worried. I had to leave Asaba down to Nnewi and I also encouraged her not to take her life because of what has happened.
“Everyone makes mistake. Some people in government do forge their results. We do see it and sometimes we have proof for all these.
“If someone commits a crime and comes back apologising, we should forgive.”
Also, the Principal of Anglican Girls’ Secondary School (AGSS) at Nnewi, Mrs. Uchekwukwu Edum, has pleaded for everyone to allow Mmesoma some space.
To all those calling the school to make enquiries, the head teacher said the student had been stressed by the result controversy.
“I pray you people should leave that girl alone so she can concentrate. She has a health… In fact, I don’t know what to say again. I’ve told you to call the diocese, please,” she said.