By Our correspondent
Ifebube Chelsea Benson, 18, a South African-born indigene of Ndikelionwu in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra state, has put Anambra State on the glorious part once again by emerging OVERALL BEST FEMALE CANDIDATE in the 2023 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) with nine distinctions, including Mathematics, English language, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and three others.
The exceptional feat was communicated to the father of the brilliant girl, Ben Benson, a lawyer and journalist based in South Africa, but currently in Nigeria through a letter signed by authorities of the examination body, inviting him to the award ceremony to celebrate his daughter, believed to have broken the institution’s academic records, in addition.
Suleiman Adegote, Chairman, Staff Productivity Award Committee, signed the letter, dated November 4, 2023, inviting the parents to the award ceremony where the girl would be decorated with a national award at Justice Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State on December 6, 2023.
The letter read in full: “I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones in good health. I write on behalf of the Registrar/Chief Executive, National Examinations Council (NECO) to give you a formal invitation to receive an Award of Excellence for emerging as the Overall Best Female Candidate National in 2023 Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) Internal. Kindly accept our humble invitation to grace the ceremony with your physical presence. Congratulations.”
Ifebube, whose name translates, “beautiful thing to glamourise,” came back to Nigeria in 2022 to complete her secondary education at the Renaissance Garden Secondary School, Ago-Okota, Lagos, from where she took the NECO examination, to create the feat, which is coming alongside other beautiful stories of academic excellence by indigenes of Anambra State, nationally and internationally.
Benson, a visibly elated father said that he was delightful but expressed no surprise at her achievement, having been known for such academic feats even in her former schools in South Africa.
He said “To say that I’m excited is to state the obvious and an understatement. Overall best, has almost become her second name and she has certificates and trophies to show for it. I believe there is the hand of God in her life and she has become a blessing to my family. I hope she becomes a blessing to Anambra State, Nigeria and the entire world. I’m quite happy, indeed.”
Speaking on the development , Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime noted that Ifebuche’s achievement is a testament to her hard work and dedication, pointing out that she has done the state proud, and the state is confident that she will continue to shine in all her future endeavors.
“Her achievement has not only made her family and school proud but has also brought glory to the state of Anambra. Her exemplary performance in the National Examination has set a high benchmark for future students, and her success story will inspire many to follow in her footsteps”; he added.
“Anambra has once again produced an exceptional student in the academic realm. She has achieved remarkable academic success. Anambra is synonymous with excellence in all fields of endeavour and we are proud of her”; Mr. Aburime concluded.
Recall that Anambra students( girls) had emerged overall bests in this year’s WAEC and JAMB examinations respectively
