WAEC Calls for Stronger Academic Integrity to Boost Global Competitiveness

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has underscored the need for African schools to strengthen academic integrity, describing it as a vital pillar for educational excellence and global competitiveness.

Speaking at the 2026 Africa Top Schools Awards in Lagos, the Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, stressed that integrity must remain at the heart of teaching, assessment, and certification processes if African students are to compete successfully on the global stage.

The event, themed “The Seamless Arc: Building a High-Integrity Foundation as the Bedrock of Global Tertiary Competition,” brought together education stakeholders to examine the role of ethical standards in shaping future leaders and improving educational outcomes.

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Represented by the Acting Head of the SPD Printing Division, Mr. Akinsola Akinbode, Dangut noted that educational certificates carry significant value beyond their physical form, serving as evidence of competence, credibility, and trustworthiness.

“It takes integrity in how we assess, how we measure, and how we certify what our students know. A certificate is not just paper; it is a promise. When that promise is broken, the foundation for future success is weakened,” he said.

According to him, assessment systems anchored on integrity are not merely administrative requirements but strategic tools for national development. He warned that widespread academic dishonesty could diminish the quality of education, weaken public trust in qualifications, and hinder the country's aspirations for global relevance.

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Dangut further explained that credible assessment practices help instill discipline, accountability, and a culture of excellence among students, qualities that remain essential throughout their academic and professional journeys.

The event also celebrated institutions that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to educational excellence. King’s College Lagos and Queen’s College Lagos received the Africa Top Schools Award and were inducted into the Africa Top Schools Hall of Fame for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of quality education.

In his remarks, the Founder of Africa Brands Review and Convener of the Africa Top Schools Awards, Mr. Joseph Ayodele, said the initiative was established to promote integrity in schools, recognise outstanding educational institutions, and encourage the adoption of best practices across the sector.

Ayodele explained that membership in the Hall of Fame remains valid for two years, after which schools undergo a fresh evaluation to determine whether they continue to meet the required standards.

“The Africa Top Schools Hall of Fame is about global recognition and remains valid for two years. At the end of that period, schools are re-evaluated, and any institution found to be involved in examination malpractice is removed from the Hall of Fame,” he stated.

The 2026 edition of the awards also featured the launch of the Nigeria Education Wheel of Progress Report (2023–2026) and the Students Talent Hunt Competition, initiatives designed to promote innovation, continuous improvement, and excellence within Nigeria’s education system.

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