WAEC Calls for Stronger Academic Integrity to Enhance Global Competitiveness

Esther Oluku

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has emphasized the need to strengthen academic integrity in African schools, arguing that it is essential for achieving educational excellence and boosting global competitiveness.

Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of National Office (HNO) for Nigeria, made the remarks at the 2026 Africa Top Schools awards in Lagos. The event, themed “The Seamless Arc: Building a High-Integrity Foundation as the Bedrock of Global Tertiary Competition,” gathered education stakeholders to discuss how integrity shapes future leaders.

Dangut stated that integrity remains indispensable in assessment and certification, noting that credible educational qualifications are vital for global recognition.

Representing the SPD Printing Division, Akinsola Akinbode explained that certificates are more than documents; they represent a promise of competence and credibility.

“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.

He added that integrity‑driven assessments are not merely administrative requirements but a national imperative that supports Nigeria’s aspirations for global competitiveness and leadership. He warned that unchecked academic dishonesty could undermine educational quality and erode public confidence in qualifications.

Dangut further noted that assessment systems built on integrity help cultivate habits of excellence, discipline and accountability among students—qualities essential throughout their academic and professional lives.

At the ceremony, King’s College Lagos and Queen’s College Lagos were honored with the Africa Top Schools Award and inducted into the Africa Top Schools Hall of Fame for their outstanding contributions to educational excellence.

Mr. Joseph Ayodele, Founder of Africa Brands Review and Convener of the Africa Top Schools awards, explained that the initiative was created to promote integrity within educational institutions, recognize high‑performing schools and celebrate best practices across the sector.

He stated that induction into the Hall of Fame is valid for only two years, after which schools are reassessed to ensure they continue to uphold 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 said.

Ayodele added that this year’s edition also featured the launch of the Nigeria Education Wheel of Progress Report (2023–2026) and the Students Talent Hunt competition, both aimed at promoting continuous improvement and innovation within the country’s education system.