Educator Defends Anambra JAMB Top Scorer Chinedu Okeke Amid ‘Mercenary’ Allegations

Educator Alex Onyia has expressed deep concern over the wave of suspicion surrounding Chinedu Okeke, the Anambra student who scored a record-breaking 375 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Despite his remarkable feat, Chinedu has been labeled by some as a “mercenary” — a term used to describe individuals who write exams on behalf of others.

The controversy gained traction following rumors that Chinedu is already a student of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). Seeking clarity, Onyia spoke directly with Chinedu’s father, Mr. Chris Okeke, and took to social media to set the record straight.

According to Onyia, Chinedu indeed began studying Medicine at UNN in 2021 but struggled deeply with the course, which did not align with his true interests.

“The accusation has really troubled me,” Onyia wrote. “I have been intensely engaging the father, Mr. Chris Okeke, since morning to get the boy’s history.”

He outlined the timeline:

1. Chinedu was admitted into UNN to study Medicine and Surgery in 2021.
2. Over time, he realized the course was not his true calling and faced academic difficulties.
3. In 2024, he failed three subjects in his second MBBS exams, which confirmed to his family that Medicine was not the right path for him.
4. After much discussion, the family agreed that Chinedu would switch to Mechanical Engineering—a field that required Mathematics instead of Biology in JAMB.
5. He moved to Lagos and enrolled at Achievers Academy in Amuwo Odofin, where he prepared thoroughly for the 2025 JAMB. He won several academic awards at the academy.
6. Though affected by the infamous 2025 JAMB systems glitch, he sat for the rescheduled exam and scored 375, the highest score in JAMB history.
7. Onyia added that discrepancies in Chinedu’s profile stemmed from incorrect data migrated from the NIN platform in 2021—a mistake that has since been corrected.
8. He emphasized that Chinedu’s determination to pursue his true passion, despite setbacks, should be celebrated—not questioned.

“We commend Chinedu for his resilience, commitment, and unmatched resolve to pursue his life goals. His story should serve as motivation for students whose first choices don’t work out—try, try again,” Onyia concluded.

He also called on JAMB to conduct a fair investigation and offer a public apology if necessary, rather than fueling doubts about the legitimacy of Chinedu’s extraordinary performance.