ANAMBRA STATE – Innosun Motors has retracted the N3m scholarship previously granted to Mmesoma Ejikeme due to the ongoing controversy surrounding her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.
Mmesoma claimed she had scored 362, making her the highest-scoring and best-performing student in the state.
On May 8, the owner of an automobile manufacturing company in Nnewi, Anambra State, Mr Innocent Chuwkuma, announced a scholarship. He declared the winner as the person who had scored the highest on the exam.
Mmesoma encountered a problem when JAMB disputed her winning claim last Monday. JAMB accused her of result manipulation.
The State governor, Charles Soludo, immediately set up a committee of inquiry to unravel the alleged fraud.
The committee released an eight-page report on Friday confirming that Mmesoma had manipulated her result. The report revealed that she actually scored 249, which contradicts her claim of scoring 362.
Innosun withdrew their scholarship offer to the 19-year-old after the report. This was communicated through tweets signed by their Head of Corporation Communications and Affairs, Cornel Osigwe, on Saturday.
The automobile company described the committee findings as “disappointing”, adding that Mmesoma’s action falls short of the company’s values.
“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,” it said.
“This action is a testament to our unyielding commitment to honesty, integrity, and merit-based recognition.”
According to the company, Mmesoma’s actions have caused disappointment among those who supported and believed in her, including her school principal and other Nigerians.
“However, it is crucial to maintain the integrity of our scholarship program and the values it represents,” the statement noted.
Innoson further stated that it remained steadfast in its mission
“to support deserving students, invest in the future of our education sector, and uphold the highest ethical standards.
“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,” it said.
