Otti Receives Abia’s Top UTME High Flyer, Promises Educational Support

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has officially received Master Michael Offorkaile, an Abia-born student who scored 367 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), emerging as the fifth highest scorer nationwide.

Governor Otti who received the student, his parents and the management of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, at Nvosi Isialangwa South, on Monday, described the feat as a remarkable achievement worthy of recognition and celebration.

The governor who vowed to support master Offordile’s academic pursuit, directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to work out the modalities for the state’s support package.

He also instructed his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr Dodoh Okafor, to liaise with Master Offordile’s family on the necessary follow-up.

Governor Otti said his administration, founded on the principles of meritocracy, would continue to recognise and reward excellence,
stressing that celebrating outstanding achievements would inspire other young people to strive for greater success.

“We don’t take this for granted. We really appreciate your visit. The whole idea is to celebrate our own when they do well. And as a government founded on meritocracy, we will not stop celebrating people who do well.

“We also want him to be a source of encouragement to those coming after him. And to know that when they do well, they will be celebrated”, the governor said.

He noted that the student’s impressive UTME performance marked only the beginning of a much longer academic journey and urged him to sustain the momentum throughout his university education.

“We also want this to be an encouragement to him because the journey has just started. 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. And as a state, we will support you. I believe that the details of the support will be worked out with the Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education.

“But I think what’s most important is for you to know that your state is behind you, recognises the feat that you have performed and encourages you to even do better”, Governor Otti added.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Emeh Uche, disclosed that the governor had specifically directed her to fish out the outstanding student and bring him to the state for recognition.

According to her, reaching the student was not an easy task because of the strict protocols maintained by the school, which she described as commendable.

She congratulated Master Offorkaile, his family and the management of Grundtvig International Secondary School for producing one of the country’s brightest students.

In their separate remarks, the school’s Principal, Mr Ige Bello, and the student’s father, Mr Odinaka Offorkaile of Umunneochi Local Government Area, said the exceptional performance did not come as a surprise, citing Master Offordile’s consistent academic excellence.

They thanked the governor for recognising the young scholar and commended his administration’s commitment to education and good governance in Abia State.

Responding, the highly elated top JAMB scorer, Master Michael Offorkaile expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for the honour accorded him and described the governor as his role model.

“I want to thank you for what you have done for me and my family, and also my school today.

“And I will also try my best to keep performing, keep inspiring, keep encouraging students from Abia and Nigeria”, he said.

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