Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has honoured Master Michael Offorkaile, an indigene of the state who emerged as one of the highest scorers in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), after recording an impressive score of 367.
The governor disclosed this in a post shared on his official X account on Tuesday, revealing that the exceptional performance placed Michael among the joint fifth-highest scorers nationwide in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Michael, who was accompanied by his parents and the management of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, visited the governor at his office, where Otti congratulated him on the feat and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rewarding academic excellence.
Reflecting on the visit, Otti wrote: “Yesterday, I received Master Michael Offorkaile, an illustrious son of Abia State, who scored an outstanding 367 in the 2026 JAMB/UTME examinations, placing him among the joint 5th highest scorers nationwide.”
He added: “Accompanied by his parents and the management of his school, Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, he visited my office where I congratulated him on this remarkable achievement. As a government built on meritocracy, we celebrate excellence wherever it is found, and his feat is a shining example of what our youths can achieve.”
The governor announced that he had directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. (Mrs.) Uche Eme Uche, to work out the details of the state’s support for the student’s academic pursuit.
He also said his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Dodoh Okafor, would liaise with Michael’s family to ensure seamless coordination of the support.
“I have directed the Honourable Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof (Mrs.) Uche Eme Uche, to work out the details of the State’s support for his academic journey, while my Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Dodoh Okafor, will liaise with the family to ensure smooth coordination.”
According to Otti, recognising Michael’s achievement goes beyond celebrating one individual, noting that it should encourage other young people to pursue excellence through dedication and hard work.
“Michael’s recognition is not only to celebrate him but also to inspire other young Abians and Nigerians to strive for excellence, knowing that their hard work will be honoured.”
Expressing confidence in the student’s future, the governor assured him of the state’s backing as he prepares for higher education.
“His journey towards higher education has just begun, and we are confident that he will strive for excellence and bring even greater pride to Abia State and Nigeria. As a government, we stand firmly behind him and will provide the necessary support to ensure his success.”
Otti concluded by congratulating the young scholar once again, describing his achievement as a source of pride for Abia State and the country.
