Innoson Vehicles, a Nigerian automotive manufacturer, has revoked a scholarship granted to Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme.
This action came after an Anambra investigative committee revealed on Friday that Ejikeme falsified her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.
According to the committee, the student acknowledged that she had manipulated her scores.
In a statement released on Saturday, Cornel Osigwe, the Head of Corporate Communications at Innoson, confirmed the decision to rescind the scholarship.
Osigwe stated that the company made this “difficult decision” in response to the confirmed fraudulent actions by the student.
The company said, “In recent days, we have been involved in the process of investigating allegations surrounding the 2023 UTME examination results of one of our scholarship recipients, Miss Joy Mmesoma Ejikeme. It was reported initially that Miss Joy scored exceptionally high on the exam, a feat that led to her being awarded a scholarship by our company.
“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, Dr. 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 in 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.”