Mrs. Chinelo Ezeunala, mother of the highest 2019 JAMB scorer, Ekene Franklin Ezeunala, on Friday, denied the news report that Lagos State government has compensated the family for the son’s performance.
“It is not true. It is fake news that my family has received compensation from government for my son’s academic performance.”
She spoke to www.e-nigeriang.com at Meiran Community Senior High School, Meiran, Lagos, where her son is still sitting for her Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination
She was in the school with Ekene Franklin to receive Lagos government officials who came to honour the boy and the school for the boy’s ingenious performance in University Tertiary Matriculation examination, UTME.
The officials came to see and congratulate the prodigy who made Lagos State proud with his score of 347 marks.
He scored 78 in English, 91 in Mathematics, 86 in Physics and 92 in Chemistry.
As the mother left the school compound after the meeting, neighbours and passers-by who know them kept saying, “congratulations” ceaselessly. The family is still reveling in the euphoria of Ekene’s genius success.
Mrs. Ezeunala told e-NIGERIA! that the family needs two things from large-hearted and benevolent individuals and organizations.
“The most important thing we need now is a waiver on age. My son has chosen the University of Lagos, UNILAG as his first choice and if UNILAG does not admit him, he would lose the benefit of his highest score now.
“Wisdom is not based on age. If a student at 15 or even less, exhibits the mind of a genius, should the student not be encouraged.
“I am not quarreling with UNILAG age law which at a time was 18, the same reason that made them to change the law in the past should prevail again, Mrs. Ezeunala appealed.
As for the second thing, she said: “Our family economy is not strong enough. I am a chemistry teacher in a private secondary school and my husband is a retiree of the Nigerian Telecommunications, NITEL. Up till now his full retirement benefits have not been fully paid, and his stints in business did not succeed.
“If benevolent individuals and organizations can give my son scholarship, that will be highly appreciated,” Mrs. Ezeunala said.
And back on age limit for admission, e-NIGERRIA! recalls that in 2010, one 13-year-old Pelumi got admission from Dreammakers Secondary School, Oyemekun Road, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja, to study Electrical Engineering at UNILAG and he was threatened with the same problem.
However, he scaled through without publicizing what happened, and yet he finished with a first class.
Pelumi’s school principal, simply called AJ, said during that time: “Age has nothing to do with academic ingenuity. I do not think this kind of thing can happen in the United States or United Kingdom, where age can come between a student and his academic growth.”
