Education minister hails WAEC

Minister of Education, Mr. Ibrahim Shekarau

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has hailed the West African Examinations Council for its contributions to the development of education and the provision of excellent services to stakeholders in the West Africa.

Shekarau, who described WAEC’s mandate of conducting credible examinations and maintaining educational standards as an onerous, said the council’s fight against examination malpractice was in tandem with the anti-corruption policy of the government.

The minister spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala, during the council’s the 63rd annual meeting in Lagos.

He recalled that the council had for over six decades continued to collaborate with other examining bodies to enable them to benefit from its experience and expertise.

The minister also urged the council to be at its best always by adopting global best practices in view of its strategic role in the human capital development.

Advising stakeholders in education to assist in preserving the integrity of public examinations, Shekarau said they would help in guarding the credibility of the certificates issued to their children.

The Liberian Minister of Education, Mrs. Etmonia David-Tarpeh, who expressed gratitude to Nigeria for hosting this year’s event in Lagos, also thanked the management and members of staff of WAEC for their contributions to the conference.

Meanwhile, the council ended the meeting with the election of Dr. Evelyn Kandakai of Liberia as the 18th Chairman of the sub-regional organisation.

Kandakai is the first female to occupy the position in the 63-year-old history of the council.

Her election is for three-year tenure. She succeeds Prof. Pius Obanya.