Could a unique error like this occur? The answer, from my experience, is a resounding “YES”.

This is what could have happened, that both JAMB and Mmesoma Ejikeme are not aware of, after all she passed, she scored 249 in the exam.

Having read about the N3 million scholarship offer by Innoson Motors and subsequent confession in the Mmesoma Ejikeme case, the question that arises is: 

Could a unique error like this occur? The answer, from my experience, is a resounding “YES”.

Ejikeme Mmesoma finds herself at the center of a tempest, embroiled in controversy over her UTME result. Accusations from JAMB assert that Ejikeme tampered with her result, leading to inconsistencies in scores and birthdates. At first glance, this might appear as a straightforward case of misconduct. However, with my background in creating digital systems, I am led to believe that there might be more to the story.

Years ago, I developed an online payment and registration system for a university, aiming to simplify fee payments and course registrations. In the course of its operation, amidst thousands of flawless transactions, there occurred a single irregularity. A particular transaction charged N5,000 less than it should have, a fact that was brought to my attention by a cyber cafe. This anomaly, amidst countless successful operations, was certainly baffling.

There exist various elements in digital systems that could potentially trigger such anomalies, including session conflicts, database irregularities, caching issues, data corruption, concurrency issues, among others. Especially in public settings like computer cafes, where multiple students access these systems simultaneously. Some of these can lead to such isolated incidents.

In my experience, I recommended the use of Incognito Mode or Window to be a useful preventive measure in such high-traffic situations, where many of the students or candidates rely on the computer center staff or cafe operators to get most of these tasks done. It can help reduce session conflicts and provide a more secure environment for individual transactions.

Reflecting on Mmesoma's UTME result situation, I believe that JAMB could have considered a wider array of scenarios before reaching a verdict. The implicated student is still young, and her ability to execute such a complex manipulation, not to mention the motive behind it, should be questioned, after all she scored 249 in the exam, meaning she initially passed.

The real question is:

Is it possible that the discrepancy was the result of a rare system glitch? Could the student have manipulated the results? What could have motivated her to do so?

In my opinion, JAMB could have benefitted from a more thorough system investigation by their IT or Tech teams. A deeper dive into the data, logs, and processes might uncover a system glitch that resulted in the discrepancy.

Despite meticulous design, applications can occasionally encounter bugs. These sporadic glitches don't necessarily diminish the overall quality of the application or its primary function. In such situations, especially when they involve the future of young students, a comprehensive and empathetic approach is paramount.

A final decision can have significant repercussions on a student's academic path and mental health. Therefore, it is imperative that JAMB investigates the issue thoroughly, ensuring that any life-altering decisions are based on irrefutable evidence and not an isolated system glitch.

Best regards,

Aderogba Otunla.