Give offender second chance, NAPTAN chief urges JAMB
A clinical psychologist at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Dr. Fisayo Adebimpe, has said the 19-year-old student who forged her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result, Mmesoma Ejikeme, suffered from “inbuilt superiority complex” and “conduct disorder tendency”.
She said a personality assessment procedure should be done to ascertain the abnormal personality traits in Mmesoma, adding that “Cognitive Behaviour Therapy” should also be considered to dissect her behaviour.
Her words: “The girl has always been the best, hence she doesn’t want anyone to be above her. She has an inbuilt superiority complex. With that mindset, there is no way she would allow anyone to be ahead of her. She expected more when she saw her result, but life is not like that.
“Parents should tell children that they can’t be the best all the time. She has a ‘conduct disorder tendency’ for her to manipulate her result. There is something within her that prompted her to do such. She is obsessed with being the best. This is a lesson. Some kids have a sense of entitlement that they must be on top of their class.”
Also, the Deputy National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, said it was unfortunate Mmesoma was desperate for sponsorship and scholarships.
“The faking would attract a lot of grants and scholarships. That was her target. She wanted sponsorship and all that. Unfortunately, she missed it. As a penalty, she should miss this year’s admission.
“It is very unfortunate that even the father insisted that her daughter didn’t forge the results, that she had been topping her class. But now that the truth is out, they have admitted the offence and are seeking pardon. It is unfortunate this is happening.
“Since she is a teenager, one is moved to say Mmesoma should be forgiven. But what about serving as a deterrent to others that engage in such? The penalty for this should be missing admission for this year…
“We also appreciate JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, for his efforts at repositioning the organisation and making its examinations credible.”
Also, the Coordinator of the Lagos State chapter of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Mrs. Ronke Oyelakin, called for psychosocial support for Mmesoma and her family.
“She needs psychosocial support. Her name is everywhere. It is a national issue and it is not so good. Parents have a lot to do. The girl was even bold enough to challenge JAMB. What parents do also rub off on their children. The entire Mmesoma family needs psychosocial support.
“I don’t know if she has younger ones. The girl also needs to retrace her step because she is still very young. Every other child also needs the right values.”
The Nation
