‘I Targeted 370,’ Says UTME Best Ekene

Fifteen-year -old Ekene Franklin Ezeunala, who scored highest (347) in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has said that he targeted 370 out of 400.

Ekene said that he was shocked to be announced the best candidate with the highest score.

The Meiran Community Secondary School pupil of SS3 said that he is happy with his score.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday, he said, “I tried to make a good score while preparing for the examination. The score I was targeting was 370. I still feel happy that I still achieved a good result.”

Ekene, who will turn 15 May 27, said: “When I first heard I was the highest, I was a bit shocked. But I became glad and happy.”

He attributed his feat to consistent participation in various competitions oragnised by Lagos State government.

“The competitions impacted positively on my preparation. Some of the subjects I did I had done them in preparing for the competitions and met the same thing in the exams,” he said.

According to him, he wants to study Chemical Engineering in the university – for the love of it and to impact the society. He said he was already working on some bio-fuel research to reduce carbon emissions in Nigeria.

“I want to study Chemical Engineering because I feel that chemistry and technology can impact the general public and society in various ways; and personally, I have a flair for chemistry,” he said.

According to his mother, Mrs. Chinelo Ezeunala, he has been offered scholarship by Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State.

Recall that the Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyode, however, said the best candidate may not be admitted in the University of Lagos, which he chose as his first choice because of age.