Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has pledged to support the education of Master Michael Offorkaile, an Abia-born student who scored 367 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), placing fifth among the highest scorers in the country.

Otti made the announcement on Monday while receiving the student, his parents, and the management of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, at the Government House. He congratulated the young scholar on his outstanding achievement, describing it as a feat worthy of recognition.

The governor assured Offorkaile that the state government would stand by him as he continues his academic journey.

To ensure the promise is fulfilled, Otti directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to work out the details of the support. He also instructed the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Dodoh Okafor, to liaise with the student's parents on the necessary follow-up.

According to the governor, Abia State remains committed to recognising and rewarding excellence in all sectors, adding that the student's success should inspire others to strive for greatness.

“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 continue to celebrate people who distinguish themselves through excellence.

“We also want you to inspire those coming after you, so they know that hard work and outstanding performance will always be recognised.

“This is only the beginning of your academic journey. Passing JAMB is just one step before your university education. Having achieved this remarkable feat, we expect you to do even better in the years ahead. As a state, we will support you. The Commissioner for Tertiary Education will work out the details, but the most important thing is that you know your state is proud of you, recognises your achievement, and encourages you to aim even higher,” Otti said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof. Uche Emeh Uche, revealed that the governor had directed her to locate the student and bring him to Abia for official recognition.

The Principal of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Mr. Ige Bello, and Offorkaile’s father, Mr. Odinaka Offorkaile, who hails from Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, said the student's exceptional performance did not come as a surprise, noting that he had consistently demonstrated academic excellence over the years.

They expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for recognising the young scholar and applauded his administration's commitment to education and good governance in the state.

In his response, Michael Offorkaile thanked the governor for the honour, describing Otti as a transformational leader and a role model.

“I want to thank you for what you have done for me, my family, and my school today,” he said.