Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor and 2023 Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has revealed that irrespective of his lost WAEC result, he graduated from A-Levels with the 2nd best result at the time.
He added that some detractors are trying to blow the issue of his missing WAEC certificate out of proportion.
Dr Okowa noted that some media reports are for political reasons, trying to paint it as if he didn’t attend secondary school.
He accused some people of creating “deliberate wrong perception and unnecessary politics” with the issue of his missing certificate.
Okowa grabbed media attention when it was revealed, when filing for his 2023 vice presidential eligibility race, that he informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his WAEC certificate is missing.
He said in an affidavit to that effect that he enrolled and sat for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) West African School Certificate (WASC) examinations and passed the same but his original certificate is missing, lost and can’t be found.
However, the PDP running mate said a mountain should not be made of the molehill situation about his missing certificate, clarifying that there’s no controversy about his school attendance.
Explaining while speaking at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in Isoko North LGA, Okowa disclosed that he has the school print out of his results which clearly shows that he passed all his papers with distinction.
He added that he made the second-best A- level result throughout the country when he sat for his exams and many universities were offering him admission based on his outstanding performance in both WASC and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations.
In his words, “On the issue of my certificate, I think it is a misconception. People try to play politics with everything.
“Yes, I lost my WAEC certificate but I have the print out from Edo College, Benin City, which clearly stated that I have distinction in all subjects.
“The Higher School Certificate was attached and it has been acknowledged by Edo College and the school put it out there that I made an ‘A’ `B’ `B’.
“I do not pride myself but it was very difficult to make such grade in higher school at that time.
“My high school result was the 2nd best nationally in 1976 when I finished. So, many universities admitted me through Telegram as at that time and I had to start making choices of which to accept.”
Speaking further, Okowa said he graduated from medical school when he was just a little above 21 years of age which was an uncommon fit at that time.
“Of course, it’s very clear that I finished medical school at the University of Ibadan. I was 21years and some months; I was less than 22 years of age,” the Governor boasted.
Related story:
‘My WAEC Certificate is Missing’ – Okowa
Lost WAEC Certificate: ‘My Result Was 2nd Best in Nigeria’ – Okowa