Olamilekan Ajisafe WAEC award tops 2024 national distinction list with eight A1s as WAEC unveils digital exam reforms

UMUAHIA, 28 November 2024— Master Ajisafe Olamilekan, a former student of Eemaan Foundation College in Osogbo, Osun State, on Thursday won the 2024 West African Examination Council National Distinction and Merit Award after emerging Nigeria’s top-performing candidate in the year’s WASSCE.

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Ajisafe Olamilekan WAEC award recognition came after he achieved eight A1 grades, including English Language and Mathematics, with a remarkable total score of 580.8535.

His performance placed him ahead of Miss Onovo Eberechukwu of Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State, who secured the second prize with eight A1 grades and a total score of 576.2304.

The third position was awarded to Mba Chibuike Mac-Dinald of Grundtvig International Secondary School, Oba, Anambra State, who also earned eight A1 grades and a total score of 575.7032.

All three honourees received their awards during the 63rd annual meeting of the Nigeria National Committee of WAEC held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Announcing the winners, the Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee of WAEC, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, highlighted the Council’s breakthrough in launching the Computer-Based WASSCE for school candidates.

Abdulkadir explained that the shift placed WAEC as the first major examining body in Nigeria to roll out digital examinations at such scale, describing the transition as a bold and transformative step.

Abdulkadir assured parents and schools that every candidate would be adequately supported through training and pilot testing.

She emphasised that subjects and registration patterns would remain flexible to safeguard academic progression.

She confirmed that the Council had also extended the deadline for uploading Continuous Assessment Scores to ensure accuracy within the 2026 examination cycle.

Speaking at the event, the Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, described the Committee’s annual meeting as the Council’s highest policymaking forum in Nigeria.

He reiterated WAEC’s commitment to advancing technology-driven processes, including digital marking, electronic certificates, QR-coded documents, e-learning tools and real-time service platforms.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, welcomed delegates and highlighted improvements in school infrastructure, teacher training and learning standards across the state.

He noted that the gathering offered an opportunity to strengthen collective efforts shaping the future of Nigerian learners.

Several other outstanding students and schools received national recognition, including recipients of the WAEC Endowment Fund Book Prizes valued at five thousand dollars.

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Additional honours such as the Omo N’Oba Erediauwa Coronation Trophies, the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Trophy and the WAEC Vatebra Limited Merit Awards were presented to the best male and female candidates, as well as top achievers in public schools and science subjects.

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