By Agbo Amauche, Abakaliki
The Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Chief (Mrs) Mary-Mudline Uzoamaka Ogbonna Nwifuru says she would support the Interim
Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) to establish her South East Zonal office in Ebonyi State so as to assist more young people to gain admission into tertiary institutions.
Mrs Nwifuru stated this when she received in audience, the Director, Interim Joint Matriculation Board, South East and South South Zones, Dr Rita Akpan-Ekon and her team who were in her office to seek collaboration.
The Governor’s wife who expressed joy over the visit said she had longed to meet with the managers of the scheme when she first heard about their program and appreciated them for thinking it worthwhile to partner her office.
She lamented the difficulties associated with Joint Admission Matriculation Examination by young people who seek admission into tertiary institutions and noted that the presence of IJMB would bring relief to those who could not meet JAMB cut off marks.
Mrs Nwifuru expressed the hope that the scheme when become operational in the State would reduce the cases of social vices being perpetuated by youths who got frustrated after their inability to gain admission into tertiary institutions for failure to meet JAMB cut off marks.
The Director, Interim Joint Matriculation Board, South East and South South Zones, Dr Rita Akpan-Ekon said the scheme is an alternative to JAMB aimed at assisting students who could not meet up with JAMB requirements to still gain admission into tertiary institutions of their choice and become graduates like their peers.
She noted that the Interim Joint Admission Board has been into existence since 1976 but lamented that it was yet to have an office in the whole of South East zone.
She revealed that the scheme has offered scholarship to millions of Nigerians and called on the Ebonyi State Government to take advantage of the Interim Joint Admission Board and expose her people to tertiary education.
The Director was accompanied on the visit by wife of the Chief of Staff, Government House Abakaliki, Dr. Mrs Nkechi Echiegu, immediate past Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Steve Odo among others.