Encomium
The residence of Ezeunala Ekene Franklin, the best candidate in the 2019 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination and SS3 student of Meiran Community Secondary School in Lagos has witnessed an upsurge of residents who visit to congratulate his family on the feat achieved by the 15-year-old in the examinations.
The JAMB Registrar, Profesor Ishaq Oloyede had announced that Ekene Franklin scored 347 marks to come tops in the examination with a breakdown of the scores showing that the candidate scored 78 in English, 91 in Maths, 86 in Physics and 92 in Chemistry.
Reacting to the news, an elated Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye said she was not surprised at the feat achieved by Franklin as he has been a very brilliant student who featured in many competitions.
She recalled that he represented Lagos State at the Zonal final of 2018 NNPC National Quiz competition, came first and subsequently represented the South West at the National finals in Abuja.
Adekanye noted that Franklin was to lead the Lagos team to 2018 Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientist (JETS) competition in December last year but due to a shift in the date of the event, he had to be excused to enable him to concentrate on his WASSCE.
While expressing delight at the impact of the qualitative education provided by the State, Adekanye buttressed her stance by stating that the new team raised from the SS2 class due to the postponement of the JETS competition eventually won the competition.
Speaking further, she revealed that quite a number of students from the Lagos State public schools did very well in the 2019 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, citing Ihejeamatu Anthony of Festac Senior Grammar School who scored 327, Ahemagba David of Faith Academy, Gowon Estate with 316, AbdulLateef Adeyemi of Government Senior College, Ajara who scored 295 and Tadese Fafai and AbdulWaheed Adegbite both of Abibat Mogaji Millennium Secondary School, Agege who scored 291 and 271 respectively.
Commending Franklin and many other students who have displayed academic brilliance and made Lagos and Nigeria proud in the various local and international competitions and examinations, the Permanent Secretary expressed happiness that the transformation of the education system in Lagos State is fast yielding results.
She said the performance is an impetus to further inspire the government to do more in the area of making the school environment conducive for teaching and learning, while all the competitions presently in place, such as the State Quiz and Debate, Current Affairs competition, among others, would be encouraged and more will be introduced as deemed fit.
Adekanye enjoined all students to emulate Franklin, face their studies and make themselves, families and the State proud.
