No Shortcut To Success … Integrity Pays – JAMB Beneficiary

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Following his upright stance during the 2023 UTME registration at Aina Awaw CBT Centre, Ilu-Abo, Ondo State, the management of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has handsomely compensated a distinguished Nigerian youth, who displayed uncommon diligence that led to the arrest of three notorious individuals who visited the centre in an attempt to impersonate some other candidates.
While fielding questions from JAMBulletin on Monday, 8th May, 2023, at the Board’s National Headquarters, Abuja, the young man, a graduate of Meteorology with vast skills in graphic design, computer hardware maintenance, network engineering, sound engineering; who also doubled as Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre operator, submitted that there is no shortcut to success, while encouraging Nigerian youths to eschew corruption in its entirety, saying, integrity pays.
Analysing the scenario, the Meteorologist chronicled how the trio had previously visited a CBT centre for UTME registration, and thereafter ending up at his CBT centre to complete their ignoble acts.
According to him, “When I login to register the first candidate, I discovered that the photograph on the screen was different from the person sitting before me. I challenged him on the matter but he maintained that it was his photograph that appeared on the screen. I asked him to step aside and asked the second one to take his seat and the same scenario played out. I told the third to sit and it was the same situation.”
“At that point, I had no option but to contact the Ondo State Coordinator, who came with the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and arrested the three impersnators on the spot.”
Responding to what spurred him to act differently, knowing full well that some CBT centre operators would have seen the situation as an opportunity to enrich themselves.
“Our CBT Centre Proprietor always encourages us to uphold his culture of integrity. He always admonished us that it pays to be honest even if no one is watching you, as the Almighty will one day reward you and that is exactly what has happened.”
“He will tell us not to prioritise profit over national interest and to cherish our family names over cheap popularity. Aside these, I naturally detest corrupt practices, it is not in my blood,” he said.
While fielding questions on his views on the Board’s widely-aclaimed stance on corruption, he submitted that JAMB is the only examination body in Nigeria he could vouch for at any given time.
“JAMB takes time to upskill its human resource just as it updates its material resources towards ensuring a transparent process. Anyone who thinks he could bypass the Board’s examination security system should think twice.”
With regard to the issue of compensation by the Board as being speculated in some quarters for the laudable feat. He expressed his sincere appreciation to the Registrar in particular, saying, the Board has affirmed the veracity of the adage that says “one good turn deserves another.”
“I have been promised various rewards – offer of appointment with the Board, sponsoring on a foreign trip, among others, which I will not like to disclose. I thank the Registrar for these gestures,” he disclosed.
Commenting on his message to the Nigerian youths on hardwork and wholesome practices, he encouraged them to embrace hardwork and eschew corruption in its entirety, saying, “There is no shortcut to success. Men of integrity receive honour and do not only stand tall but stand out in the comity of friends, integrity pays.”