The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a credible, seamless, and technology-driven 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for school candidates across Nigeria.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday at the WAEC National Office in Yaba, Lagos, the head of the Nigeria national office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, disclosed that the Council has continued to strengthen its digital examination system following the successful rollout of the maiden Computer-Based WASSCE in 2025.
According to him, the increasing acceptance of the computer-based examination among schools is due to its seamless operation, alignment with global best practices, and the recommendation of the Federal Ministry of Education.
He added that some offshore schools in neighbouring countries operating the WAEC syllabus also participated in the 2026 CB-WASSCE.
Dr. Dangut revealed that a total of 1,959,636 candidates from 24,207 schools registered for the 2026 examination.
A breakdown of the registration figure shows that 958,564 candidates (48.92%) are male, while 1,001,072 candidates (51.08%) are female, indicating a rise in female participation compared to previous years.
He explained that candidates would sit for 37 subjects comprising 97 papers, while about 29,000 senior secondary school teachers nominated by various Ministries of Education are serving as supervisors for the examination.
The examination commenced on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, with practical papers and is expected to conclude on Friday, June 19, 2026, spanning a period of eight weeks and three days.
To further strengthen examination integrity, Dr. Dangut disclosed that WAEC has enhanced the serialization of examination papers to ensure that no two candidates receive the same sequence of questions.
He warned candidates, supervisors, schools, and operators of rogue websites against engaging in examination malpractice, stressing that strict sanctions approved by the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) would be imposed on offenders.
According to him, schools found guilty of mass cheating risk de-recognition, while culpable candidates and examination officials would face severe disciplinary actions.
The WAEC boss also cautioned parents and guardians against patronising fraudulent websites promising leaked examination questions, noting that the Council, in collaboration with security agencies, would track down and prosecute offenders.
Addressing concerns over insecurity in some parts of the country, Dr. Dangut acknowledged the challenges associated with conducting examinations in volatile areas but maintained that the situation remains manageable.
He commended the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies, and State Governments for their support in ensuring the smooth and secure conduct of the ongoing examination nationwide.
WAEC also confirmed that the National Identification Number (NIN) has now been integrated into the registration process in compliance with Federal Government directives.
As part of efforts to modernise examination administration and improve service delivery, the Council highlighted several digital innovations introduced to support candidates and schools.
These include the Digital Certificate platform for candidates from 1999 to date, WAEC Verify for result authentication, WAEC Chatbot support services, Computer-Based Test services at WAEC facilities in Ogba and Yaba, the Digital Examiners Marks System (Digital EMS), as well as the Centre Locator and Examination Malpractice Portal.
The Council also unveiled additional educational support platforms for candidates, including the WAEC E-Study Portal, WAEC E-Learning Portal, WAEC Konnect, Chief Examiners’ Reports, and Past Questions and Answer Booklets.
On the release of results, Dr. Dangut disclosed that results for the 2026 CB-WASSCE would be released within 45 days after the last paper, while certificates would be printed and distributed to schools within 90 days. He added that digital copies of certificates would also be accessible through the WAEC Digital Certificate platform.
Reaffirming WAEC’s commitment to transparency and excellence, Dr. Dangut stated that the Council, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, State Ministries of Education, security agencies, and other stakeholders, remains fully prepared to deliver a credible and successful examination.
He further appealed to the media to continue supporting WAEC’s efforts towards sustaining examination integrity and improving educational standards across Nigeria.
