Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has pledged to support the education of Abia-born student, Master Michael Offorkaile, following his outstanding performance in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), where he scored 367 to rank fifth among the highest scorers in the country.

The governor made the promise on Monday while receiving Offorkaile, his parents and the management of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, at the Government House.

Congratulating the student on his remarkable achievement, Otti said the Abia State Government values excellence and remains committed to recognising and rewarding outstanding accomplishments.

He directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education to work out the details of the support package, while instructing 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, celebrating excellence is a core principle of his administration, adding that Offorkaile's success should inspire other young people to strive for academic excellence.

Otti noted that gaining admission into the university is only the beginning of a greater academic journey and encouraged the student to aim for even higher achievements.

He assured Offorkaile that Abia State stands firmly behind him and will continue to support his educational aspirations.

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

Also speaking, the Principal of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Mr Ige Bello, and Offorkaile's father, Mr Odinaka Offorkaile, an indigene of Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, said the student's exceptional performance came as no surprise because of his consistent record of academic excellence.

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

In his response, Michael Offorkaile thanked the governor for the honour extended to him, his family and his school.

He also praised Otti's leadership, describing him as a transformational leader and a role model, while expressing gratitude for the encouragement and support.