Cross River Spends Over N1.17bn on WAEC Registration for Candidates in 3 Years (2024-2026)

For the past three years, the Cross River State Government has spent roughly N1.18 billion on the registration of indigent students for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), underscoring its commitment to expanding access to education for vulnerable learners.

The State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Calabar, where he provided an overview of the administration's achievements in the education sector.

According to Odey, the state sponsored the WAEC registration of 43,694 students between 2024 and 2026 at a total cost of N1,179,828,000.

“In 2024, we registered 16,301 students, in 2025, we registered 14,804 students, and in 2026, we registered 12,589 students, totalling 43,694 students altogether for the three years, costing N1,179,828,000,” he said.

The commissioner also praised the state's performance in the 2024 National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, noting that Cross River ranked among the top-performing states in the country.

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“Based on statistics released by NECO, Cross River State had 76.05% of students with five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, and was placed 4th position among the 12 top states in the federation,” Odey stated.

To strengthen teaching and learning at the basic education level, Odey said Governor Bassey Otu approved N4.11 billion for the printing and distribution of textbooks and teachers’ guides under the World Bank-assisted HOPE Programme.

The materials include 209,530 textbooks and 23,504 teachers’ guides for literacy and numeracy instruction across public primary schools in the state.

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“209,530 textbooks and 23,504 Teacher’s Guide have been distributed using the Trace and Track digital platform,” the commissioner added, noting that the system was adopted to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution process.

Odey further highlighted other milestones in the education sector, including the digitalisation of Ministry of Education operations, the hosting of the 2024 National Joint Consultative Committee on Education meeting in Calabar, the establishment of the University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa, increased subventions to UNICROSS, the enactment of the Senior Secondary Education Board Law 2026, and the approval of a new Federal Technical College in Akansoko, Akpabuyo.

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He added that the government remains focused on staff welfare, manpower development, quality assurance, and the improvement of educational standards across the state.

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