Okowa breaks silence on missing certificates
says WAEC result second-best nationwide in 1976
Governor of Delta State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has broken his silence on his missing certificates just as he said his secondary school result was the second-best in Nigeria when he finished secondary school in 1976.
Okowa joined Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and other top politicians that swore to affidavits to attest to the loss of their certificates.
Governor Okowa spoke on Tuesday at a media briefing after inspecting some projects at the state-owned university in Ozoro, Isoko north LGA
Okowa said although he had lost his West Africa Examination Certificate (WAEC), he made a “distinction in all subjects” and that made it possible for him to be admitted into the medical school at University of Ibadan.
“On the issue of my certificate, I think it is a misconception. People try to play politics with everything,” he said.
“Yes, I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the printout from Edo College, Benin City, which clearly stated that I have a 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 a grade in higher school at that time.
“My high school result was the second-best nationally in 1976 when I finished. So many universities admitted me through telegram at that time, and I had to start making choices of which to accept.”
The Delta governor added that he was less than 22 years old when he graduated from the university.
“Of course, it is very clear that I finished medical school at the University of Ibadan. I was 21 years and some months; I was less than 22 years of age,” he said.
“Yes, I lost my WAEC certificate, but I have the printout from Edo College, Benin City, which clearly stated that I have a 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 a grade in higher school at that time.”
Okowa is among the candidates running for elective office in 2023 that have informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that their academic credentials are missing.
Okowa affirmed in the affidavit he deposed to that the “original of the said certificate issued to me is now missing, lost and cannot be found”
