Lagos@50: WAEC highlights contribution to education sector

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has said that its activities in the last 50 years contributed to the educational development of Lagos State.

The Head of Nigeria office of WAEC, Mr. Olutise Adenipekun, said this at the Award and Scholars’ Day organised by the Academic Excellence Initiative for students in Education District I, Agege.

In an inter-school quiz completion organised as part of the activities for the day, Al-Hikmat School emerged first while Chrisfield School and Da’aru Naim School took second and third respectively among the 14 schools that competed.

Adenipekun, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator of WAEC, Ikeja, Mr. Ojo idowu, noted that the Council had embark on numerous activities to upgrade the educational and academic standard of the state.

Among the roles highlighted by the WAEC boss are inspection of schools for recognition, re-inspection of schools, conduct of credible examinations, regular feedback to schools on candidates’ performance, training of teachers, involvement of teachers in examining and excellence awards.

He said, “It goes without saying that WAEC is much older than Lagos State. Thus, the Council would have been involved in the educational development of the State right from the onset. WAEC has contributed immensely to the educational evolution of Lagos State as well as manpower development. With more collaborative efforts from the State Government, WAEC is ready to do more.

“We need to recognise the efforts of the Lagos State Government in enhancing the educational advancement of the state. Prominent among the efforts of the government are paying WASSCE registration fee for all candidates in public senior secondary schools, distribution of free textbooks in core subjects, free education in both primary and secondary schools, subsidized education in state-owned university, colleges of education and polytechnic.

“others are collaborating with WAEC in training of teachers, continous recruitment of qualified teachers in the state, supply of laboratory equipment and reagents to schools, rehabilitation of schools, non-acceptance of transfer of students from one school to another (in SS two to three), regular payment of salaries to all categories of public/civil servants, maintenance of high level of security throughout the State.”

The Executive Director of the AEI, Engr. Faheed Olajide, explained that the competition was organised to encourage students to study hard and develop healthy competitive spirit.

He said, “We are formed to assist secondary school students in actualising their dreams academically. We have seen organisations invest in other areas like entertainment, football but we have chosen to focus our investment in the education of children. One of the ways in which we do this is by investing to support interschool competitions for students to have more laurels than academics. The quality of education determines the future of the country.”

The awardees at the event are Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Prince Kamaldeen Jaiyeola, Engr Ibrahim Abdul and Prince Mike Adesanya.

Some of the students and teachers that attended the programme commended the organisers, saying the initiative would boost educational development.