Otti Pledges Education Support for Abia JAMB High Scorer

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has pledged to support the education of Master Michael Offorkaile, an Abia-born student who emerged as one of Nigeria’s highest scorers in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

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Offorkaile scored 367 in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), ranking fifth among the highest-performing candidates nationwide. He was received at the Government House in Umuahia alongside his parents and the management of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State.

Speaking during the reception, Governor Otti congratulated the student on his exceptional academic performance, describing the feat as a testament to hard work, dedication and excellence. He said the state government would continue to celebrate and reward outstanding achievements, especially among young people.

“We do not take this for granted. As a government built on meritocracy, we will continue to celebrate excellence wherever it is found. We also want you to inspire others by showing that hard work and commitment are always rewarded,” the governor said.

Otti directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to work out the details of the support package for the student’s academic journey. He also instructed his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to liaise with Offorkaile’s family to ensure the necessary arrangements are made.

The governor expressed confidence that the young scholar would achieve even greater success in the future, noting that the state was proud of his accomplishment and remained committed to supporting his educational aspirations.

Introducing the student, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Eme Uche, said the governor had specifically directed the ministry to locate and honour the brilliant student in recognition of his outstanding performance.

Responding, Offorkaile expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for the recognition and promised to remain focused on his academic goals. He also commended the governor’s commitment to education and youth development, describing the support as a motivation to strive for greater achievements.