From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
West African Examination Council (WAEC) has renewed its commitment to upholding the sanctity and credibility of its examinations.
The sub-regional examination body said that its 70 years of operation in Africa has witnessed tremendous improvement through the support of the five member countries.
Chairman of WAEC, Prof. Ato Essuman, renewed the commitment in Abuja, on Thursday, when he led other officials of WAEC on a courtesy visit to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.
He explained that the courtesy visit was to present and acquaint himself with the Minister and other officials of the Ministry since he will pilot the affairs of the Council for three years, 2021-2024.
He said: “I would have paid you a visit long before now, but the inclement health atmosphere occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic prevented me from doing so.”
He appreciated the Minister’s personal efforts and contribution towards the successful conduct of WASSCE in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
“Not too long ago, you approved a marginal upward review of the fee for WASSCE to enable the national office to keep afloat and serve the Nigerian child optimally in the face of rising costs of goods and services across the sub-region. We can’t thank you enough. But as a responsible and responsive organisation, we would continue to seek ways to improve on our service delivery to stakeholders.”
He, however, informed the Minister that the Nigeria national office of WAEC had embarked on the establishment of a digital printing press for the printing of examination security materials, and that will be the first to be owned by the Council in Nigeria.
“However, the project which is nearing completion has been stalled because the office is unable to find funds for the acquisition of a particular machine that is vital to the operations of the system.”
He, thus solicited the support of Nigerian government to enable them secure the required financial assistance for the procurement of the machine.
The Minister, in his remarks, appreciated WAEC for upholding the sanctity and credibility of the system in the past 70 years, and reassured them of the support of the Federal Government to their activities, and to also fulfill its financial obligations to the Council.
The Minister was, however, not specific in his response to the request of WAEC for financial assistance to enable it procure the remaining digital printing machine that would enable it commence printing of examination security materials in Nigeria.
