After more than seven decades of existence, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) finds itself at a critical crossroads. The events that marred the 2024/25 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria reveal a system in decline, plagued by corruption, insecurity, and operational ineptitude. Founded in 1952 with a noble mission to provide standardised assessments for English-speaking West African nations, WAEC’s deteriorating credibility now threatens the very foundation of public trust in academic certification across the region.
Exam Chaos Unveils Deep-Rooted Problems
The 2024/25 WASSCE was particularly chaotic. Just days before the scheduled English Language paper, WAEC was rocked by a leak of the exam questions. This forced the council to hastily reprint and redistribute the paper nationwide, causing major delays. As a result, students in several centres across Lagos, Ogun, Osun, and Taraba states sat for the exam late into the night under hazardous conditions.
Reports emerged of students using candles, torches, and mobile phone lights to complete their papers due to widespread power outages. At one centre, part of the roof nearly caved in, narrowly missing candidates who were already emotionally drained by the ordeal. Understandably, this sparked panic among parents and guardians, many of whom desperately attempted to locate or contact their children amid the confusion.
Some WAEC officials are now reportedly under police investigation over the leaked paper and the dangerous exam conditions. Yet, these incidents are symptomatic of much deeper structural flaws that have been festering within the organisation for decades.
A Once-Respected Institution Losing Its Shine
When WAEC was established in 1952, it stood as a beacon of academic excellence, committed to integrity, credibility, and standardisation. Its certificates opened doors for generations of students across Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia. During its first two decades, the council was widely respected, and its examinations were largely immune to the malpractice and fraud that now characterize its operations.
However, starting from the 1970s, cracks began to appear in WAEC’s once-pristine record. One of the most notorious breaches, the Owosho Scandal, rocked the council in the mid-70s, when a senior official was caught leaking answer slips to candidates. That scandal resulted in the cancellation of several exams and forced many innocent students to retake their tests the following year.
But the 1977 ‘Expo’ scandal dwarfed even the Owosho breach in both scale and impact. It marked a turning point for WAEC and signaled the beginning of an era of widespread examination malpractice. Ever since, paper leaks, bribery, and collusion between exam officials and criminal syndicates have become increasingly entrenched.
Technology and Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword
The digital age has only made matters worse. With the proliferation of smartphones, instant messaging apps, and online platforms, leaking exam questions is now easier and faster than ever before. Scores of websites openly advertise WAEC exam papers—both real and fake—days before the actual test dates. Many of these platforms operate under brazen monikers such as “Exam Runz King” and “WAEC Expo Gurus,” openly selling solutions to desperate candidates.
This black market for exam answers has fostered a dangerous culture of academic shortcuts. Students are encouraged to rely on leaked questions rather than prepare legitimately. Consequently, many leave secondary school with inflated results that do not reflect their actual knowledge or capability, further eroding the value of WAEC certificates in tertiary institutions and the job market.
“Miracle Centres” and the Assault on Integrity
An equally alarming trend is the emergence of “special centres”—dubbed “miracle centres”—where candidates are assured of passing regardless of their preparation. These centres operate with the collusion of school administrators, WAEC supervisors, and sometimes even local security personnel. At these centres, students are allowed to use mobile phones during exams, discuss answers openly, or even have papers written for them.
During the recent 2024/25 WASSCE, one such centre in Akure became the site of a shocking incident. A mother, enraged by a vice-principal’s attempt to stop her son from using a phone in the exam hall, allegedly hired thugs to assault the school official. Such episodes not only highlight the desperation of parents and students but also expose the total breakdown of discipline and integrity in the system.
WAEC’s Hollow Reassurances and Institutional Denial
In 2002, WAEC celebrated its 50th anniversary in Abuja under the theme “50 Years of Excellence.” In 2004, a former WAEC head in Nigeria proudly declared that the body had built a cadre of well-trained staff and maintained the integrity of its assessments. But these proclamations ring hollow today. From the widespread sale of leaked papers to physical assaults on school staff and compromised examination venues, the reality on the ground contradicts any claims of excellence.
Recent educational crises extend beyond WAEC. In early 2024, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) also came under fire after a technical glitch led to mass failure in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Tragically, the stress reportedly contributed to the suicide of a female candidate in Lagos. JAMB later admitted that the failures were due to its own system error, not student performance.
Urgent Reforms Needed
WAEC is on the brink of total collapse if immediate reforms are not initiated. The council must begin by cleaning house—identifying and prosecuting the corrupt staff who enable malpractice from within. Leaks do not occur in isolation; they require insider cooperation. The government should empower law enforcement agencies to go after syndicates that operate “exam expo” businesses and special centres.
Secondly, WAEC should overhaul its logistics. Recurrent technical failures, security breaches, and poor exam venue conditions cannot continue. Question papers must be printed, distributed, and stored under airtight security protocols. Exam centres must also meet minimum safety standards, with adequate lighting, ventilation, and emergency infrastructure.
Additionally, WAEC should leverage technology more responsibly. While the internet has exacerbated malpractice, it can also help curb it. Encrypted digital delivery of exam materials, biometric verification for candidates, and surveillance cameras in exam halls are practical steps already in use by some examination boards globally.
The Role of Society and Government
Fixing WAEC is not solely the responsibility of the council. Government oversight agencies must hold it accountable, and the broader Nigerian society must end its tolerance for shortcuts in education. Parents must stop encouraging children to cheat, and communities must value merit over connections.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration must prioritise education reform as part of its national development strategy. Restoring the integrity of public examinations is foundational to improving workforce quality, fostering innovation, and building a functional economy.
Conclusion: WAEC Must Choose Between Relevance and Ruin
After 73 years, WAEC must decide what it wants to be in the next decade—a credible institution or a shadow of its former self. It must shed the rot, reconnect with its founding mission, and prove that it still has the capacity to deliver quality, credible assessments. The 2024/25 WASSCE debacle should not be swept under the rug. It must be a turning point.
WAEC owes it to millions of students across West Africa to rise again—reformed, reenergised, and restored. Anything less would be a betrayal of the generations yet to come.
