The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has now moved the full implementation of its Computer-Based Test (CBT) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to 2027, shifting away from the earlier 2026 schedule set by the Federal Government.
The 2026 May/June WASSCE will still serve as a pilot phase, where candidates will be allowed to choose between writing on computers or using the traditional paper-and-pen format.
This adjustment was revealed by the Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC and Federal Government’s representative, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, during the opening of the 63rd NNC Annual Meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State.
The NNC serves as WAEC’s highest policy-making body in Nigeria and is made up of key stakeholders from the nation’s education sector. The committee meets once every year, rotating among the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Abdulkadir, who is also a Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, WAEC is aware of the concerns raised by stakeholders following the government’s directive that all examination bodies should fully adopt CBT by 2026.
“To be clear, no student writing the 2026 WASSCE will be denied the opportunity to take the exam in any format,” she assured.
She further highlighted several steps WAEC has recently taken to prepare schools and candidates for the transition to full CBT. These include training senior secondary school students to use digital tablets and respond to essay questions electronically, among other preparatory measures.
Speaking on the newly reviewed Basic and Secondary School Curriculum, Abdulkadir also emphasized that candidates will still be allowed to register subjects across different groups.
She clarified: “Science students are free to select Economics or other electives to complete their subject combination. The period for uploading Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS) has also been extended to accommodate candidates offering newly introduced subjects for the 2026 WASSCE, based on the Federal Government’s approved list.”
During the event, WAEC celebrated top-performing candidates from the 2024 May/June school-based examination, including winners in both regular and special categories.
Master Ajisafe Qoreebullah Olamilekan of Eemaan Foundation College, Osogbo, Osun State, emerged as the overall best student nationwide, earning the WAEC National Distinction Award.
Ajisafe, the first child in his family, scored a total of 580.8535 points and obtained A1 in eight subjects, including Mathematics and English Language. He is currently studying Medicine and Surgery at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, Osun State, and attended the ceremony with his parents.
Also honoured were the second and third best candidates — Onovo Joan Eberechukwu, aged 18, and Master Mbah Chibukem Mac-Donald, both of whom received distinction merit awards for their outstanding results.
Notably, all three top-performing candidates came from private schools.
Joan is now studying Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), while Chibukem is pursuing the same course at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
WAEC equally recognized the best male and female special-needs candidates. They are Ugwu Christian Chiemerie, 23, and Miss Abiodun Taye Olubunmi.
Christian, a former student of the College of Immaculate Conception, Uwani, Enugu State, secured 413.5326 points and is now studying Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Taye, from Queen’s College, Lagos, scored 429.1543 and is currently a Guidance and Counselling student at the University of Ilorin.
At the event, the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, praised WAEC for its consistent commitment to quality education and credible assessments. Represented by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Chinedu Ubochi, he reaffirmed the state’s readiness to support the examination body.
He also applauded WAEC for introducing new policies aimed at curbing exam malpractice and safeguarding the integrity of examinations nationwide, describing the measures as “bold, timely and necessary for the future of our children.”
In his remarks, the Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC Nigeria, Dr Amos Dangut, said the different award categories were established to inspire healthy competition and academic excellence among students and schools.
He noted that the initiative has achieved significant success and congratulated the award recipients, their parents, and their schools, urging them to maintain the pace as they progress academically.
Hajia Abdulkadir also commended the winners and assured that the Federal Government would continue partnering with WAEC to ensure Nigerian students remain globally competitive.
