Nation

2022 WASSCE: WAEC Withholds 365,564 Results Over Malpractice

Published

4 years ago

August 10, 2022

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says results of a total of 365,564 candidates who sat for its 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates have been withheld.
A total of the 1,607,981 candidates registered for the examination from 20,222 recognised secondary schools across the country, but only 1,601, 047 sat for the test.
The council’s Head of National Office (HNO), announced details of the examination results on Monday, in Lagos.
He said the withheld results related to various reported cases of examination malpractice.
According to him, the number of seized results represents 22.83 per cent, making it 11.74 per cent higher than the 10.9 per cent recorded in the same examination diet in 2021.
Areghan said that the students’ lack of zeal to learn was largely responsible for the development.
“I will say preparation for examination among our students is taking a serious nose dive, due to over-reliance on the so-called ‘Expo’, which is actually non-existent.
“Candidates simply got frustrated when they entered the examination hall and discovered that all they had celebrated, was actually fake.
“This has pitiably led to some of them failing the examination, which if they had relied on themselves and studied hard, would have passed like many others,” he stated.
The HNO said that the council would continue to sanction all cases of examination malpractice.
He said that schools, supervisors, teachers and candidates perpetrating the evil act were not helping the education system.
Areghan said all hands must be on deck to check the ugly trend.
He said that the increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite of the existing ban, and organised cheating in some schools were other nagging issues.
The WAEC boss said that the examination was also administered to candidates from some schools in Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian curriculum for senior secondary school was being used.
Giving a further breakdown of statistics of the results, Areghan said that, of the total 1,601, 047 candidates who sat for the examination, 1,713 of them had varying degrees of special needs.
“Of the number of candidates with special needs,128 of them were visually challenged, 583 others had impaired hearing and 387 were spastic cum mentally challenged.
“We also had 12 others who are physically challenged. All these candidates were adequately provided for, in the administration of the examination.
“Results of these category of candidates have been processed and are also now being released along with those of other candidates,” he said.

Speaking further on the result, Areghan said that of the total number that sat for the examination, a total of 1,437,629 candidates representing 89.79 per cent had their results fully processed and released.

According to him, a total of 163,418 others, representing 10.21 per cent had a few of their subjects still being processed, due to some issues that are still being resolved.

He, however, noted that efforts were being made to speedily complete the processing, to enable all the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released within the next one week.

Areghan said that further statistics of candidates’ performance at the examination showed that 1,409, 529 , representing 88.04 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects, that is, with or without English Language and/or Mathematics.

According to him, 1,222,505 others, representing 76. 36 per cent who sat for the examination, obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

He noted that there was a 5.34 per cent decrease in performance, when compared to the 81.70 per cent obtained by candidates in the same category in 2021, in the same examination diet.

Speaking further, the HNO said that the council’s Digital Security Printing press was set for commissioning.

According to him, the digital security printing press, which is the first of its kind by the council in Nigeria, is in response to its growing operational needs.With this digital security printing press, the Nigeria national office will be able to improve its operational efficiency.

“Also, the much-awaited digital certificate software, which was earlier announced as one of the innovations the council is exploring in its bid to make service delivery more accessible to candidates, is here at last.

“The project has been completed and it is now set for launch to enable end users enjoy the enormous benefits of the service,” he said.

Areghan expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Education, security agencies and other stakeholders, for giving maximum support to the council.

He said they gave this before, during and after the conduct of the examination, especially in the face of the insecurity in parts of the country.

The HNO appealed to states that were owing the council registration fees of their candidates to pay up.

This, he said, would enable such candidates to be able to access their results.

The Tide’s source reports that the conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates ended on June 3.

The examination council released the results exactly 45 days after the last paper.

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

1 week ago

June 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

Nation

THE LAPSES OF THE MEDIA IN ELECTIONS

Published

2 weeks ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The media is supposed to be a platform through which people express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions on issues of public interest. Unfortunately, it has often failed to live up to its role as the fourth estate of the realm.During the 2023 elections, the media recorded several lapses that deserve critical examination in academic and professional spaces. Before discussing these failures in detail, it is important to briefly explain the meaning, role, and duties of the media. In simple terms, the media refers to the main channels of mass communication, including broadcasting, print publishing, and the internet.

It is a collective term for all means through which information reaches the public. The media is often called the fourth tier of government because of the popular saying, “No media, no society.” This is not an exaggeration. Scholars have shown that the media plays an integral role in society, since political, economic, religious, and academic activities all depend on information flow through the media.

The word MEDIA can be broken down to reflect its core functions: M – Meeting the People E – Educating the People D – Discussing with the People I – Involving the People A – Accessing the PeopleSpecifically during elections, the media is expected to provide accurate and timely information to the public by reporting and updating citizens on government and electoral activities. This responsibility is central to keeping the electorate informed.The media also strengthens democracy by engaging citizens on critical issues affecting the electoral process. When the media effectively disseminates relevant information, the public can see through the failures of government, hold leaders accountable, and propose solutions that serve the common good.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram play a vital role in democratic societies because they allow mass participation. Unlike radio and television, social media is accessible to anyone with a smartphone and data bundle, making it the most inclusive platform for political discourse. Despite these roles, the media must not abandon its ethics or promote partisan agendas that mislead the public. In many schools of thought, the media is described as closely related to the judiciary.

People often see the media as a place to voice grievances and seek justice.However, it is fair to say that the media has lost ground by failing to fulfill its duties during elections. Below are ten key lapses observed in the February 2023 elections.Lack of coordination among journalists. Many press personnel who covered different polling units were poorly equipped and unprepared. Some lacked functional cameras and modern technology needed to carry out professional reporting.

Partisanship and breach of ethics. Media personnel, who are supposed to remain non-partisan, openly violated professional ethics by taking political sides and favoring certain candidates in their reporting.Commercialization of coverage. Some journalists prioritized money over news. It was disappointing to see professionals from reputable stations engaging in what I call “Oga, find me something syndrome” begging politicians for money in exchange for favorable coverage or interviews.Loss of independence and self-censorship. On election day, some journalists took instructions from politicians on what to report and what to suppress. This compromised the independence of the media and reduced public trust.

Poor post-election reporting. Few media outlets reported what actually happened at the polling units. Incidents of violence, voter intimidation, and irregularities were either underreported or ignored entirely, while praise was lavished on politicians instead of amplifying the voices of the people.Spread of misinformation and unverified claims. In the rush to be first, some media houses published unverified results and rumors from social media without fact-checking. This fueled confusion and tension among the electorate.Inadequate coverage of rural and marginalized areas. Media attention was concentrated in urban centers, leaving rural polling units underreported. The experiences and challenges of rural voters were largely absent from mainstream coverage.

Sensationalism over substance. Some outlets prioritized sensational headlines and conflict-driven stories over factual analysis of policies and candidate manifestos, leaving voters uninformed about real issues. Failure to hold INEC accountable in real time. While INEC faced logistical failures and delays, many media houses were slow to question officials or demand explanations on air, missing opportunities for live accountability.

Neglect of voter education. Beyond reporting results, the media did little to educate voters on procedures, rights, and what to do in case of irregularities. This left many citizens uninformed and vulnerable on election day.These lapses weaken public trust and undermine the credibility of the electoral process. For the media to regain its role as a watchdog of democracy, it must return to the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and public service.

The media must be informed to follow its ethics as the 2027 elections approaches. This is encourage electorates rely on the authenticity and objectivity of media practice.Failure to uphold media standards will further make the country plunge into political apathy, electoral violence and disgust for those in the media practice.

By KRUKRUBO, NYE TAMUNODIKI.

Nation

RSU, Otonti Nduka Foundation Holds Centenary Conference, Unveil Book on Values in Nigeria

Published

3 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State University and the Otonti Nduka Foundation for Values Education jointly hosted a two-day National Conference on 8 and 9 May 2026 to examine the state of values in Nigeria.

The two days conference held at Rivers State University convocation arena brought together academics, policymakers, legal experts and education leaders under the theme _“Trends and Challenges in Upholding Values in Nigeria.”_

The gathering focused on policy gaps, curriculum reform, and the role of ethics in public service and education.

The event opened on Friday with remarks from Vice Chancellor Prof. Chief Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who stressed the need to address declining moral and civic values across Nigeria’s education and public sectors. A book of abstracts for the plenary sessions was also presented to participants.

Key speakers included former Attorney General Chief Dr Kanu Agabi, SAN; NERDC Executive Secretary Prof. Shehu Salisu; Prof. Hauwa Imam, FNAE, of the University of Abuja; former Rivers SUBEB Chairman Ven Dr Fyneface Akah, ; former NIMASA DG Dr Hon. Dakuku Adol-Peterside; and RSU Director of ICT Prof. Sunny Orike.

Discussions centered on integrating values education into schools, tertiary institutions and public institutions, alongside the impact of technology on moral development among young Nigerians. Panel and plenary sessions produced practical recommendations for curriculum and policy reform.

On Saturday, the foundation marked its centenary with the unveiling of the book _Otonti Nduka in History_, launched by Chief Engr. Grant Offor, FNSE. The Nigerian Academy of Education held a ceremonial procession led by its President Prof. Olu Jegede and the Ikwerre Professors Forum.

In a communiqué, participants called for stronger collaboration between government, civil society and academia to mainstream values education nationwide. They recommended reviewing teacher training curricula and expanding digital platforms to promote ethical civic engagement, with the foundation pledging to share the outcomes with education authorities for implementation.

Dignitaries present included Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide as Chief Host, Prof. Emeritus Chief T. Uzodimma Nwala, the Ikenga 1 of Mbaise and first philosophy student of Prof. Otonti Nduka, alongside scholars and community leaders.

Amadi Akujobi