In a celebration of academic brilliance, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) awarded three Nigerian students with accolades for their outstanding performance in the May/June 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), each achieving impressive grades of 9As.
The honours were presented on Thursday at WAEC’s 62nd Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC), held at the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) Conference Hall in Kaduna State.
Eighteen-year-old Whiskey Orevaoghene of Topfaith International Secondary School, Akwa Ibom, claimed the top prize with a remarkable T-score of 628.3248.
Beyond her exceptional performance in WASSCE, Orevaoghene also excelled in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scoring 340. She is currently pursuing a degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Port Harcourt.
The second position was awarded to 17-year-old Okafor Chima Christian from St. Paul’s Academy in Jos, Plateau State. Okafor achieved 8As and a T-score of 605.4081, securing his place in the prestigious list of top students. He is now studying Medicine and Surgery at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
Seventeen-year-old Alinnor Ifunanya Jessica from Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, came in third with an impressive 8As and a T-score of 601.9246.
With a UTME score of 345, Alinnor is currently enrolled at Tennessee University, USA, where she studies Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on a merit scholarship.
In a heartfelt gesture to recognize students with disabilities, WAEC also honored two visually impaired students who achieved the highest results in the 2023 WASSCE. Nineteen-year-old Opu Sylvester Iforulimre from Demonstration Secondary School, Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State, received the top award in the male category with 2As, 3Bs, and 2Cs. In the female category, 18-year-old Banjo Fiyinfoluwa Emmanuella from Starfield College, Lagos, excelled with 4As, 2Bs, and 1C.
In his address, WAEC Head of National Office (HNO) Dr. Amos Dangut emphasized the council’s role as Africa’s premier examination body, pledging continued excellence.
“The NNC serves as the council’s highest policy organ, ensuring that policies are both formulated and executed in Nigeria,” Dr. Dangut stated, reaffirming WAEC’s commitment to uphold its mandate.
The event was marked by remarks from NNC Chairman Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, who highlighted the council’s initiatives to enhance examination integrity and efficiency. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, inaugurated the event with a call to intensify efforts against exam malpractice.
“I urge the committee and WAEC management to continue devising effective strategies to eliminate this challenge,” Governor Sani remarked.
“Our administration is committed to improving the learning environment and promoting parental involvement in education to guide our young ones.”
Governor Sani further praised WAEC’s impact on educational standards in West Africa, describing it as a “cornerstone of educational excellence across the West African region.” Through initiatives like these, WAEC continues to foster a culture of high achievement and collaboration among member nations, setting a commendable example in the region’s academic landscape.
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