While addressing the recent case of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination result forgery involving student identified as Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, on Monday, in an interview with Wise FM in Abeokuta, Fashina emphasized the importance of ethical conduct and the crucial role parents play in instilling integrity in their children.
Fashina said,, "Parents should lead by example and create an environment that encourages open dialogue about integrity and ethics.
"By instilling these values in our children from a young age, we can equip them to make principled decisions and act responsibly throughout their lives."
Recall, Mmesoma, a student from Anglican Girls Secondary School in Anambra State, had claimed to have achieved a remarkable score of 362 in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), making her the top-performing candidate. Her alleged achievement garnered widespread attention and resulted in her being awarded a prestigious N3 million scholarship by Innocent Chukwuma, the Chairman of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing (IVM) company.
However, investigations conducted by the appropriate authorities revealed that Mmesoma had falsified her UTME result. The truth was uncovered, prompting a public discourse on the significance of honesty and the need for parents to play an active role in nurturing ethical values in their children.
During the interactive session, Fashina further emphasized the importance of raising children who understand the virtues of honesty, integrity, and accountability.
He said, "Parents have a significant responsibility in molding the character of their children, teaching them the importance of ethical behavior in all aspects of life."
Fashina also stressed the need for educational institutions and society at large to join forces in promoting ethical conduct among students, saying, "the revelation of Mmesoma's UTME result forgery serves as a wake-up call for all stakeholders involved in the education system.
"It highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and verification processes to maintain the integrity of academic achievements and scholarships. The incident also emphasizes the need for a collective effort to foster a culture of honesty and integrity in society."
Regarding the perpetrators of the forgery, Fashina said, "results forgery is against law and order.
"The Constitution doesn't make it compulsory that you must score a grade before you can be successful in the country. "
He therefore appealed to the government to temper justice with mercy.
