In less than five weeks, the Head of Nigerian Office (HNO) of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Dr. Iyi Uwadiae will bow out of office, giving way for a new man, Mr. Charleston Mivoghenubo Eguridu.
While announcing the release of the May/June 2012 West African School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results, Penultimate Friday, Uwadiae happily disclosed to journalists that his bowing out is for good, as he has just been ratified during WAEC’s 60th Annual Council Meeting to step in as its new Registrar on October 1, 2012. He will therefore assume office, when Alhaja (Mrs.) Mulikat A. Bello, statutorily retires from the council.
Amidst pump and champagne by close friends and associates for this progressive move, it however, becomes expedient to critically overview the exam body under the administration of Uwadiae.
Myriads of challenges
Since assuming office four years ago, like what many termed baptism of fire, Uwadiae went through hurdles of handling reported cases of gross involvement in examination malpractices by students, as aided and abetted teachers and officials; leaked exam question papers, release of conflicting exam results, touts who extort and dupe candidates and their parents to upgrade results and correct informational errors on certificates, controversies in Council’s Award of Excellence to performing candidates, but a few to mention.
