For initiating and sustaining the Exams Ethics Project (EEP), Mr. Ike Onyechere (MFR) was among the eminent Nigerians conferred with the 2008 National Merit Award recently by the President Yar’Adua. Following this achievement, Friends of Exam Ethics organized a lunch reception in his honour.

Held at the Aquatic Hotels, Water Parks, Ikeja, the event, which was an interactive session, provided for all present, the forum to express their gratitude to President Yar’Adua for believing in what exam ethics project stands for. It was also an opportunity to congratulate the recipient and to assess the successes so far achieved and what still needs to be done.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Emma Agu, former Managing Director, Champion Newspapers noted that in a society where people buy certificates, and do all sorts of things to be recognized, where individuals take steps to climb the social ladder not because they want to impact on peoples’ lives but for self aggrandizement, Onyechere earned his achievement through selflessness and hardwork.

According to him, the issue of exam fraud has become a lucrative industry, which permeates various strata in the society. He described Onyechere’s initiative on the EEP as "driving a value that is germane and central to the reorientation of the society". This, he said, "entailed looking beyond the ordinary and looking to the sublime".

To all who were present at the luncheon, the award couldn’t have come at a better time than now as it is seen that the recipient has contributed immensely to the uplift of education in Nigeria especially in the fight against exam malpractice and cultism on campuses. Some action groups which he initiated for the fight include Exam Ethics Project, Exam Ethics Club of Nigeria, Independent Examwatch Action and Joint Action Committee on Ethics. Also, the Action Committee of Journalists on Exam Ethics, Healthcare professionals Advisory Committee on Exam Ethics are other strategies he initiated in the fight against the monster called exam malpractice.

This fight also led him to initiate the Exam Ethics Annual Report, Annual Exam Ethics Week this was after instituting the Annual Exam Ethics Award, Annual Education and Stakeholders Retreat. In addition, he organized the first National Conference on Eradication of Campus Cult in Nigeria. This led to the formation of United Network of Institution and Schools Against Campus Cults (UNISACC) and the Federation of Parents Against Campus Cults.

Responding, Onyechere noted: "Just as we have friends, Exam Ethics Campaigners also have enemies operating in every primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in state and Federal Ministries of Education".

"They will continue to attack us for daring to call for sanctions against blacklisted schools and officials. For daring to publish the annual exam malpractice rating of states. They will continue to bind together to attempt to screen out our voices and memos from the National Council of Education and the Joint Consultative Council on Education. Their godfathers and protectors at state and federal ministries of education will continue to spread spurious unsubstantiated and empty disinformation against us," he added.

However, the founding chairman of EEP promises that his team would not relent till the battle is completely won. "But we must never be intimidated for the sake of our children. This is the time to show resolve and courage. Courage to expose the truth and current realities of our educational system, courage to commend dynamic leadership in education ministries, courage to confront leadership mafia in education ministries, courage to challenge examination malpractice and their perpetrators in whatever guise, courage to make necessary sacrifice needed to liberate the education sector from the iron-grip of exam fraud cartel".

On whether the campaign is achieving its desired objective, he has this to say: "In 2007, over 500,000 results of SSCE candidates were cancelled by WAEC, NECO, JAMB and NABTEB. Members of organized exam fraud syndicate who are profiting from the racket do not find this award funny. They will increase their attacks on the campaign. However, I have no doubt that this new environment will be a boost to our campaign".

For parents who compromise standards, he gave this piece of advice: "Aiding exam mal-practice is the worst thing a parent can do. In doing that, you are killing the child. If you help a child commit exam fraud, you are not helping him discover his talent in what God wants him to do in this world. And when you are helping him not to discover his talent, he will end up a failure. It doesn’t matter whether you helped him become a doctor or a lawyer.

Provided that is not what he set out to do but becomes that through exam mal-practice, he will fail. These are the basic things parents should understand. It is better you allow your child to try his hands in all the subjects and fail. And when he fails, he will be able to find out areas where he will do well. That’s what exam is all about".

Onyechere also warned students against cultism. "Any student today who likes his safety and wants to come out of school and survive should avoid cultism. Today, we know that so many cultists get killed, some of them get caught and some of them get wounded. If a student joins them, there is the possibility of him getting caught, injured or killed. So, enlisting means you are jeopardizing and taking unnecessary risk about your life and career. I advise that if you are already a member, renounce it. When you come out of school being able to go through it safely and securely, you will realize your mission in life."