This is not the first time that JAMB has been in the eye of the storm but thank God that it never complained of having technical glitches during the conduct of its exams. The news of some mysterious money-swallowing snakes that invaded its treasury is still fresh in our minds. I remember how two precious years of my life were wasted in writing JAMB before gaining admission into the university in 1989 because I couldn’t make the cut-off point for Medicine and Surgery, my original course of choice. Of course, it’s not JAMB’s fault that I was unable to meet the cut-off mark.
However, what amazed me is the occurrence of high-scoring students who were admitted into the same department but ironically performed woefully in the university exams at the 100 level. Many of them repeated the class having failed one prelim course or the other, some were forced to change courses while others were rusticated for academic incompetence. On the other hand, some of us that wanted to study the same course but couldn’t gain admission performed superbly well in the university exams. The question is this, how did they come about the high scores that they couldn’t defend since it is expected that there should be an improvement in students’ academic performance after the UTME?
Nonetheless, I think JAMB has improved over the years, especially since the employment and deployment of technology in conducting their exams. The various security features embedded in the conduct and processing of exam results are what made it possible to curb the nefarious activities of the likes of Mmesoma. By way of digression, one wonders why INEC which collected over N400 billion could not conduct an hitch-free election despite claims of a four-year preparation as opposed to JAMB’s one-year preparation and N1.4 billion budget.
Loopholes for corruption and crookedness are rife in virtually every aspect of our national life because of the lack of desire to deal decisively with the root and fabric of corruption. It’s unfortunate to note that some of the JAMB officials that are crying foul play over Mmesoma’s misdemeanor belong to one JAMB racketeering group or the other. Unfortunately for JAMB, Mmesoma tried to play the victim card which many well-meaning Nigerians fell for. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she made it look as if JAMB exchanged her exam scores with that of another pupil of Yoruba ethnic nationality by confirming that the QR code on her result slip happened to be that of the candidate earlier described who scored 180.
It’s simple logic, if the QR code showed someone else’s details, then it is automatically not hers. It is reasonable for her to have raised an alarm to that effect but she didn’t because there was no need for it since she ignorantly imported the QR code since it is one of the normal features that characterizes JAMB result slips. Fortunately, she did not know that it contains information that will demystify the mystery surrounding her claim and enable the whole world to see the true picture of things. Any pupil that has been exposed to CBT exams, or internet facilities should know that the QR code contains coded information regarding the examinee. Mmesoma’s naivety was revealed here. (This goes to show that the possibility abounds that many of the JAMB candidates may also share in her ignorance.) But JAMB outsmarted her through the various security features that they placed on every result slip. Kudos to them for this.
On the other hand, are those who wanted to use her situation to play the ethnic card. She exposed her naivety when she discovered that the QR code on her result slip belongs to another student of Yoruba origin. Thank God that this candidate failed; otherwise, her situation would have served as fodder for the canon of those who are hell-bent on playing the Yoruba ethnic card on one hand. On the other hand, some overzealous Igbos were already suggesting that JAMB is trying to change her scores so that she won’t profit from opportunities that will come her way because of her high performance, forgetting the fact that it was an Igbo girl of the same ethnic nationality with her that had the highest score of 360. In this, JAMB was vindicated.
Even though I am fully aware that rogues abound among JAMB officials, the level of corruption and depravity in our country has forced me to give them the benefit of the doubt at the beginning of the saga. The level of unscrupulousness of our youths and their desperation for sudden success, wealth, and fame without the readiness to pay the requisite price played no small role in helping my mental orientation. If you must shine, shine legally and not illegally.
Mmesoma Ejikeme’s stonefacedness mirrors how our leaders brazenly milk the nation dry through damning corruptible practices that make heaven quake without facing any corresponding consequences for their nefarious actions. The way they get away with their evil deeds without any reprisal action is enough to encourage youths like Mmesoma in their morbid quests. What do you expect when stealing, lying, and fraud have become an adopted and acceptable culture? In dealing with it, we have always met with stone walls of tribal and religious sentiments as it happened in Mmesoma Ejikeme’s case. She almost marred the image or reputation of well-meaning Nigerians which took them years of hard work, sincerity, and honesty to build simply because they made themselves susceptible to tribal and religious sentiments.
Just as our politicians used to do, the narrative was almost changed from the presentation of fake utme results to her brilliance or past academic record and bias towards Igbo ethnic groups in a bid to obfuscate the truth. Like other sane Nigerians who have a nationalistic approach to issues, I refused to buy into that diversionary tactic.
Why will corruption not thrive and penetrate every fabric of our nationhood when our leaders are celebrated rogues who are not made to be accountable for their misdeeds? Our youths, the future generation of this country stand on the sideline and watch this. What do you think will be in their minds? Except for those who have been divinely set apart, and whose minds have been trained to follow after righteousness and godliness through proper parenting and sound mentoring programs, how can you dissuade them from following suit? The atrocities committed by today’s youths are largely a result of what they have learned from those who have gone ahead of them. The cotton that has gone through ginning and drawing by the mother is what the child will spin. In other words, a child will only build on or do a follow-up on whatever it sees its mother or elders do. If you must come first in class, do so by burning the midnight candle, and not by cheating, or collaborating with other students or teachers to inflate your scores or deflate that of promising students who have the propensity to top the class.
What I still find as a puzzle is Mmesoma’s outrageous audacity that pushed her to Anambra state’s Ministry of Education where she went to seek intervention to help turn her falsehood into truth just as some politicians try to use state institutions to justify their nefarious deeds. I have never seen a liar this audacious. Anyone that watch the video where she displayed the fake JAMB result which was different from JAMB’s printout should be piqued by her seemingly innocent looks which made her look like a victim who genuinely has a stake to claim. It will take possessors of an esoteric mindset to know that she wore a pretentious mask to hide her falsehood.
There are several lessons to be learned from Mmesoma’s case by the government, today’s youths, parents/guardians, and relevant stakeholders in the field of education. One is that in the school of success and excellence, there are rules to be observed. Also, no one becomes great by simply ascribing greatness to himself or herself but is adjudged to be great by umpires, onlookers, spectators, and other stakeholders who are better positioned by their expertise or authority to adjudge one to be so. Three, there are hidden codes to every lie and that makes it possible for them to be exposed and debunked in the long run. Four, whatever kind of greatness that is fraudulently achieved does not last, and even if it does it brings certain disgrace to the claimant as it happened to Lucifer who placed himself where God did not place him. Finally, be graciously contented with the height or level that your best legal efforts have placed you.
