Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged to sponsor the educational pursuits of Master Michael Offorkaile, an Abia-born student who emerged as one of Nigeria’s top performers in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Offorkaile, who scored an outstanding 367 in the examination to rank fifth nationwide, was received by the governor alongside his parents and the management of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, at the Government House on Monday.
Commending the teenager for his exceptional academic feat, Otti said the state government would ensure the young scholar receives the support needed to excel further in his educational journey.
The governor directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to work out the modalities for the support, while instructing his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Dodoh Okafor, to liaise with the student’s family on the necessary follow-up.
Describing excellence as a value the Abia State Government is committed to rewarding, Otti said the recognition was intended not only to celebrate Offorkaile’s achievement but also to inspire other young people across the state.
“We don’t take this for granted. The whole idea is to celebrate our own when they do well. As a government founded on meritocracy, we will not stop celebrating people who do well. We also want you to be a source of encouragement to those coming after you and to know that when they do well, they will be celebrated.
“We also want this to be an encouragement to him because the journey has just started. JAMB is the little roadblock you have to go through to now start a degree programme of four years. So, having been celebrated because you came first, we expect that you even do better as you go to the university.
“And as a state, we will support you. I believe that the details of the support will be worked out with the Commissioner for Tertiary Education. But I think what is most important is for you to know that your state is behind you, recognises the feat that you have achieved and encourages you to even do better.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Emeh Uche, disclosed that the governor had directed her to identify and bring the outstanding student to Abia for official recognition.
The Principal of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Mr. Ige Bello, and Offorkaile’s father, Mr. Odinaka Offorkaile, who hails from Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, said the student’s impressive performance came as no surprise, citing his consistent record of academic excellence.
They expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for honouring the young scholar and applauded his administration’s commitment to education and good governance in the state.
Responding, an elated Michael Offorkaile thanked the governor for the recognition, describing him as a transformational leader and a source of inspiration.
“I want to thank you for what you have done for me and my family, and also my school today. I will also try my best to keep performing, keep inspiring, and keep encouraging students from Abia and Nigeria.”
