WASSCE: WAEC Assures Inclusive Full Computer-based Exam, Sets 2026 Deadline
Boniface Okoro in Umuahia and Funmi Ogundare
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), yesterday, reaffirmed its commitment towards migrating the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to a computer-based mode by 2026, assuring parents, schools and candidates that no student will be left behind in the transition.
Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, who made this known at the formal opening of the 63rd annual meeting of the committee in Umuahia, Abia State, disclosed that WAEC had already achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first examining body in Nigeria to conduct a Computer-Based WASSCE (CB-WASSCE) for school candidates, following last year’s rollout for private candidates.
She noted that although the federal government’s directive for full CB-WASSCE adoption in 2026 had generated concerns, the council was working closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure a smooth national transition.
“We assure you that no candidate sitting this examination will be disenfranchised,” she stated. “We have already begun training senior secondary students on the use of tablets and digital styluses for essay responses.”
Addressing concerns over the federal government’s recent curriculum review, Abdulkadir clarified that no student would be restricted from choosing subjects across groups.
“Science students are not barred from taking Economics as an elective,” she said, adding that WAEC has extended the window for uploading Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS) and advised schools to conduct at least three assessments for each candidate.
She also revealed the council has intensified its fight against examination malpractice through collaboration with security agencies and the introduction of paper serialisation, which recorded heartwarming success during the 2025 WASSCE for school candidates.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, appealed to members of the NNC to come up with policies and initiatives that would strengthen the integrity of its examinations systems.
Otti who declared the meeting open, commended WAEC for the proactive steps it has taken to strengthen the credibility of examinations, particularly the recent policies it has introduced to curb and protect the integrity of assessment processes across the country.
The governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, described the anti-examination malpractice measures introduced by WAEC as “timely, courageous and essential for safeguarding the future of our young people.”
He assured participants at the meeting that his administration would continue to support every initiative aimed at promoting honesty, discipline and fairness in schools.
The governor noted the opportunity of the meeting would afford Abia the privilege of sharing its achievements in the education sector.
He said, “it is a story of transformation built on deliberate planning, steady reforms and unyielding resolve to nurture a generation of learners who are globally competitive and locally grounded.
“It also stands as a testament to our state’s unwavering commitment to quality education, standardised assessment and our continuous pursuit of excellence”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Head of the Nigeria National Office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, reaffirmed that WAEC, now in its 73rd year, remains committed to delivering credible examinations and supporting national educational goals despite evolving challenges.
He described the NNC as WAEC’s highest policy-making organ in Nigeria, responsible for shaping and executing the council’s policies across the country.
He noted the committee comprises experienced and distinguished Nigerians who ensure that its operations are conducted in the best public interest.
He stated the NNC meeting rotates annually among Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, adding that this year’s choice of Abia State was announced at the last meeting in Kaduna.
“Today, we are happy to be holding the 63rd meeting of the Committee in God’s Own State,” he said.
The program witnessed National Distinction/Merit Award for the best three WASSCE candidates of 2024, the best three performing schools in Abia State in the 2024 WASSCE also received the WAEC Endowment Fund Book Prize valued at $5,000, while the best overall male and female students were crowned with the Omo N’Oba Erediauwa Coronation trophy.
Other prizes include the WAEC/Vatebra Merit Awards for outstanding public secondary schools’ students. They received a cheque of N2,500,000.
WAEC staff who have served for 20 years, were also honoured.
Master Qoreebullah Olamilekan Ajisafe, a former student of Eamaan Foundation College, Odun state and now a Medicine and Surgery undergraduate at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, emerged the most exceptional WASSCE performer for 2024, securing distinction in all 8 subjects with a total T-Score of 580.8535.
Ajisafe, who wrote the exam with number 4300927/009, earned A1 in Marketing, Civic Education, English Language, Mathematics, Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, attributes his fear to a complete transformation in his study habits after a disappointing UTME experience.
“I scored 287 in UTME, and I considered it very low,” he said. “I thought JAMB was an easy exam, so I didn’t take my study routine seriously. When the result came out, I didn’t like it. That moment inspired me to change everything my pattern, my friends, and how I used my time.”
