In a significant move set to reshape Nigeria’s educational landscape, the Federal Government has ordered the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to fully adopt Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all their examinations by 2026.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this announcement on Monday during an inspection of the ongoing national examinations, accompanied by officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari, Abuja.
Alausa revealed that WAEC and NECO would start administering objective sections of their examinations through CBT beginning November 2025, with a complete transition — covering both objective and essay papers — scheduled for May/June 2026.
“If JAMB can successfully conduct CBT exams for more than 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can do the same,” the Minister declared.
According to Alausa, the decision is aimed at curbing exam malpractice, enhancing efficiency, and aligning Nigeria’s examination standards with global digital trends. He further disclosed that a special committee is currently reviewing nationwide examination frameworks, with a full report expected next month.
JAMB Defends Early Accreditation, Debunks Misinformation
Meanwhile, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, used the occasion to correct misconceptions about UTME procedures. He reaffirmed that UTME exams traditionally begin at 8:00 a.m., urging candidates to report at 6:30 a.m. for accreditation to prevent delays.
Oloyede also dismissed allegations of candidates being posted to centers they did not select, citing verified investigations.
Providing an update on the ongoing UTME, the Registrar disclosed that more than 1.6 million out of 2.03 million registered candidates had completed their exams, while about 50,000 were yet to sit. However, he also revealed a troubling trend: over 40 candidates had been arrested for various examination malpractices, including impersonation and the use of hidden cameras.
In a surprising statistic, Oloyede added that more than 41,000 of the registered candidates were underage, raising fresh concerns about age compliance in the education sector.
