LAGOS, Nigeria — The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has successfully released the 2023 results for the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, overcoming numerous challenges including insecurity and financial constraints.
Through innovative technology, the council has released over 91% of candidates’ results, only 44 days after the conclusion of the examinations.
The achievement was announced during a press briefing on Monday, August 7, 2023, at the WAEC’s national office in Yaba, Lagos.
Patrick Areghan, WAEC’s Head of Nigeria Office, expressed joy and gratitude at the accomplishment, saying, “On behalf of the Registrar to Council, the Management and Staff of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, Nigeria, I am delighted to announce the release of the results of the WASSCE for school candidates, 2023 in Nigeria.”
According to Areghan, out of the 1,613,733 candidates who sat for the examination, results for 262,803 are being withheld due to allegations of examination malpractice.
He also revealed that 84.38% (1,361,608 candidates) obtained credit and above in at least any five subjects, whether English Language and/or Mathematics were included.
Furthermore, 79.81% of candidates, which translates to 1,287,920 students, attained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
These statistics underscore the continuing commitment of students across the region towards academic excellence, despite the significant challenges faced in the examination process.
Eko United Issues Ultimatum to WAEC over Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Certificate
The West African Examination Council, WAEC, is in the center of a political maelstrom.
Eko United Group, a non-political organization, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Council to produce the high school certificate of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, threatening legal action should they fail to comply.
The demand was made during a press conference on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Lagos, amid allegations that Governor Sanwo-Olu presented a forged statement of WAEC results to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during his 2019 gubernatorial bid.
Such an action could potentially lead to the Governor’s disqualification as per section 182 (1) j of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of Eko United Group, its publicity secretary Hon. Ayodele Kumolu-Johnson stated, “After WAEC failed to tender Governor Sanwo-Olu’s certificate at the tribunal and having waited this long on our governor to also put a lie to the weighty allegation by going public with the original copy of his WAEC certificate or compel WAEC to produce a certified true copy of the same if he has lost the original, we deem it imperative to use this world Press Conference to call on WAEC to produce Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s 1981 certificate in the next 48 hours or be ready for litigation in this regard.”
He added, “It is quite unfathomable that Gov. Sanwo-Olu, who claimed under oath in his form EC9 for the 2023 election that he sat for WAEC in 1981, refused to attach the said certificate as claimed. However, he attached a statement of WAEC results from Ijebu Ife Community Grammar School in his Form CF001 while standing for election earlier in 2019.”
The allegations and ensuing ultimatum have ratcheted up political tension in the state.
How WAEC responds to this request, and the potential repercussions for Governor Sanwo-Olu, could profoundly affect the political landscape in Lagos and beyond.
