By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Awka
The father of Mmesoma, Mr Romanus Ejikeme, Saturday, tendered an unreserved apologies to Nigerians and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) following admission by her daughter that the said result was actually fake.
A report of an investigative panel set up by Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo had shown that the girl did not only lie but admitted before the panel and her secondary school representatives that she actually falsified her results unaided with her phone as reported by the JAMB.
Romanus, in a short message, regretted all his actions based on the deliberate misrepresentation of facts by her daughter, noting that he did all those things because "My daughter didn't open up to me on time.
"When I realized what she did, I regretted all my earlier actions on this matter. I apologize to Nigerians and JAMB. I still beg JAMB and Nigerians to pardon her."
In another reaction, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innoson Vehicles, has withdrawn the N3million scholarship earlier granted to Mmesoma following the UTME score manipulation.
A statement by the Innoson Group Head of Corporate Communications & Affairs,
Cornel Osigwe, on Saturday read in part, "However, subsequent reports of discrepancies in her UTME score led us to seek clarification from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and to allow her to voice her stance, we engaged in direct dialogue with Miss Joy.
"Further to this, a committee set up by the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, carried out a thorough independent investigation into this matter. The findings from this rigorous investigation have now confirmed that Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme did manipulate her UTME results.
"This conclusion is deeply disappointing and stands in direct contravention of the values we hold dear at Innoson Vehicles, particularly those that underscore our scholarship program. In line with these principles and 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.
"Innoson Vehicles remains steadfast in its mission to support deserving students, invest in the future of our education sector, and uphold the highest ethical standards. We have always been deeply committed to advancing educational excellence and upholding academic integrity through our scholarship program.
"We believe 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 our educational system.
"We extend our appreciation to the public, JAMB, the Anambra State Governor's committee, and all those who have shown understanding and support during this challenging situation. We remain committed to fostering educational excellence in Nigeria."