A 367 score in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination has earned Michael Offorkaile a personal commitment from Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who has promised to support the student’s university education.
Offorkaile, an indigene of Umunneochi Local Government Area, ranked fifth among the highest scorers nationwide in this year’s examination. His feat brought him, his parents and the management of his school, Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, to the Governor’s office on Monday for a formal reception.
Prof. Uche Emeh Uche, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, introduced the student to the Governor, explaining that she had been directed to locate him and bring him to Abia State for recognition.
Otti praised the teenager’s performance, describing it as the kind of excellence the State Government refuses to overlook. He instructed the Commissioner to work out the specifics of the support package. He directed his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Dodoh Okafor, to stay in contact with the student’s parents for follow up arrangements.
“We don’t take this for granted. The whole idea is to celebrate our own when they do well. As a government founded on meritocracy, we will not stop celebrating people who do well,” the Governor stated.
He described the UTME as merely the first hurdle in a much longer academic journey. “JAMB is the little roadblock you have to go through to now start a degree programme of four years. So, having been celebrated because you came first, we expect that you even do better as you go to the university,” Otti added.
Mr Ige Bello, the Principal of Grundtvig International Secondary School, and Offorkaile’s father, Mr Odinaka Offorkaile, both noted that the result was consistent with the student’s academic history and thanked the Governor for the honour extended to him.
Offorkaile, responding, praised Otti’s leadership in Abia State and pledged to keep excelling. “I will also try my best to keep performing, keep inspiring, and keep encouraging students from Abia and Nigeria,” he said.
Otti closed by reaffirming that the State would continue rewarding excellence across all sectors, expressing confidence that Offorkaile’s academic journey would only get better from here.
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