Connect with us
Advertisement

Politics

Missing Certificate: My WAEC Result Was Second-Best In Nigeria, I Graduated From The University Before Age Of 22 – Okowa Boasts

Published

on

Missing Certificate: My WAEC Result Was Second-Best In Nigeria, I Graduated From The University Before Age Of 22 - Okowa Boasts
Advertisement

Delta State Governor and 2023 Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ifeanyi Okowa has said some reports are trying to blow the issue of his missing WAEC certificate out of proportion.

Okowa submitted that some media reports are for political reasons, trying to paint it as if he didn’t attend secondary school.

He accused some people of creating “deliberate wrong perception and unnecessary politics” with the issue of his missing certificate.

Naija News recalls Okowa grabbed media attention when it was revealed that he informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his WAEC certificate is missing.

Advertisement

It was gathered that Okowa informed INEC about the missing certificate as part of his filings for eligibility in the race for the 2023 elections.

He said in an affidavit to that effect that he enrolled and sat for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) West African School Certificate (WASC) examinations and passed the same but his original certificate is missing, lost and can’t be found.

However, the PDP running mate said a mountain should not be made of the molehill situation about his missing certificate, clarifying that there’s no controversy about his school attendance.

Advertisement

Explaining while speaking at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in Isoko North LGA, Okowa disclosed that he has the school print out of his results which clearly shows that he passed all his papers with distinction.

He added that he made the second-best A- level result throughout the country when he sat for his exams and many universities were offering him admission based on his outstanding performance in both WASC and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations.

In his words, “On the issue of my certificate, I think it is a misconception. People try to play politics with everything.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“Yes, I lost my WAEC certificate but I have the print out from Edo College, Benin City, which clearly stated that I have distinction in all subjects.

“The Higher School Certificate was attached and it has been acknowledged by Edo College and the school put it out there that I made an ‘A’ `B’ `B’.

“I do not pride myself but it was very difficult to make such grade in higher school at that time.

“My high school result was the second-best nationally in 1976 when I finished. So, many universities admitted me through Telegram as at that time and I had to start making choices of which to accept.”

Speaking further, Okowa said he graduated from medical school when he was just a little above 21 years of age which was an uncommon fit at that time.

“Of course, it’s very clear that I finished medical school at the University of Ibadan. I was 21years and some months; I was less than 22 years of age,” the Governor boasted.

On the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Okowa called on the federal government to resolve all outstanding issues with the union members in the interest of the students whose future is at stake.

He said it’s unfortunate that the public universities have been shut down for several months because the federal government has failed to uphold its end of the bargain.

“We continue to sympathise with our students who have been at home for several months now rather than being in school.

“I use this opportunity to call on the Federal government to do something urgently to end the strike.

“It’s not a good thing for the children, parents and even education in general. It is unfortunate that the Federal government has not been able to attend to issues, as requested by ASUU.

“For every government, if promises are made, we must ensure that we keep to our promises and if there are things that cannot be done, you let people know,’’ the Governor said.

Boasting further, Okowa said all state-owned universities in Delta state are running active sessions because his government doesn’t toy with education.

He said the same approach will be deployed by Atiku Abubakar and urged the people to vote for him in 2023.

He said: “For us in Delta State, we are fulfilling all the requirements and that’s why you can see that this university and our three other universities are all active and in session because we do not have any issues with our lecturers.

“All our four universities are in session because we pay special attention to education in Delta State, and our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has also assured that education occupies a prime position in our `Rescue Nigeria’ mission.’’