2019 UTME’s top scorer panics as UNILAG refuses to offer him admission

The highest scorer in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, Ekene Franklin Ezenala, has expressed worry over the possibility of him not gaining admission into the University of Lagos because of his age.

The 15-year-old Ekene, even after learning that UNILAG will not offer him admission due to his age, is still hoping that something can be done to enable him secure university admission.

Ekene is 15 and UNILAG’s law states they can only admit students 16 years and above. But, Ekene still believes something could be done.
“I know it is their law and, if it is the will of God, something can done to change the situation. I know I cannot change the law on UNILAG admission criteria. But I hope someone can come to my aid on this age issue,” says Ekene.

“Initially, I wasn’t aware of the UNILAG law which states a student must be 16 years old. Based on that I picked UNILAG as first choice. It is the university law, no one is above it. If I don’t get support from government or JAMB on the age issue, I may wait for next year to write another UTME but if I get scholarship I will accept it. I prefer scholarship that will enable me travel abroad.”

Ekene speaking to Daily Sun said his focus is to get a scholarship and go abroad to study Chemical Engineering at MIT.
The 15-year-old student from Imo State, who is currently writing the May/June 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), says if he does not get admission or a scholarship, he will prepare for another UTME next year.

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”But I don’t want to waste my high score,” he said.
The full breakdown of Ekene’s UTME result saw him emerge the highest scorer with 347, with the following subject scores: English, 78, Mathematics, 91, Physics, 86 and Chemistry, 92.