Miss Umeh, Kamsiyochukwu Nkechinyere emerged as the top
scorer with an outstanding mark of 360, making her the highest achiever in the
UTME. She was followed closely by Andrew Imoukhuede, who scored 355.
Deeper Life High School nationwide presented a total of 894
students from 21 campuses, out of which 131 students scored above 300.
Mr. Emmanuel Eze, the Administrator of the school, spoke to
journalists about the school’s origin and the exceptional achievements of the
students.
According to Eze, “The outstanding performance of Miss Umeh
and other students in the examination did not come as a surprise to the
management of Deeper Life High School. Our dedicated teachers had adequately
prepared and equipped them for the examination. We set a target score of 380
for the students.”
Miss Umeh Kamsiyochukwu, who is 16 years old, also shared
her strategy for achieving such remarkable results with journalists.
She said, “When I got home, I mainly focused on revising
past questions using the series that I had. My parents were very supportive and
encouraged me to study. They always emphasized the importance of reading.
“It was my first UTME, and I am also awaiting my West
African Examinations Council (WAEC) results as I also took that exam this year.
I have applied to the University of Lagos, and I aspire to study Chemical
Engineering.
“I never aimed to be the highest scorer; everyone wants to
be the best. I feel very excited and grateful to all my supporters and
encouragers.”
Mrs. Umeh, Kamsiyochukwu’s mother, also shared her thoughts
on her daughter’s success.
She highlighted Kamsiyochukwu’s consistent excellence,
dating back to her primary school days at the University of Lagos Women Society
College Nursery and Primary School. Mrs Umeh said, “The school provided an
excellent foundation for her. In fact, at one point, I decided that all my
children should attend that school because of the solid foundation it offers.
“When she is studying, I also make sure to involve her in
household chores. I believe that a child’s success should be holistic, not just
limited to academics. I tell her that she must know how to cook, how to handle
various tasks. A woman should be capable in all areas, not just academics. I
disturb them a lot at home, ensuring they acquire diverse skills. She desires
to leave home when she goes to university because she knows her mother will
ensure her well-rounded development. I believe they should be involved in all
aspects of life, whether it’s in church or at home. They should know the word
of God and take care of their siblings. As the oldest, she must be responsible
for them.
“Her passion has always been reading. She has been fond of reading novels since primary school. I recall her primary 2 teacher inviting me once because she was reading in class while the teacher was teaching. Even at a young age, she loved reading novels. Even at home, when she has her phone, it may seem like she’s doing something else, but she’s actually reading novels. She may not chat much with her friends, but she immerses herself in literature. At one point, she wanted to pursue arts, influenced by her love for literature”.