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• 98 others returned by ‘born again’ Christians, impounds 94 for exam malpractices
By Gabriel Dike
The Nigerian Examination Committee (NEC) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has cancelled the certificates of two and 98 others, all obtained 42 years ago by “born again” Christians, but returned recently.
The November/December Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) or West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) certificates, issued in 1982, were invalidated after the candidates confessed that they were obtained through cheating. NEC also impounded 94 certificates for SSCE or WASSCE candidates for examination malpractice.
The “born again” Christian confessed in their letters to WAEC that the certificates were obtained through fraudulent means when they wrote the examinations as internal or external candidates.
WAEC said in a notification: “The candidates listed below, in their letters of restitution, confessed that they were involved in examination malpractice. They have returned the certificates/result slips bearing the number and month/year of examination indicated against their examination numbers.”
The oldest returned certificate was obtained in 1989. One certificate obtained in 2000 was returned and cancelled at the 78th NEC meeting, in the 79th meeting 20 “born again” Christians turned in their certificates to the council and at the 80th NEC meeting, 13 others, the oldest obtained in 1995 confessed and returned their certificates, also cancelled.
At its 74th and 75th meetings, NEC cancelled 13 certificates. For 74th NEC, four certificates were involved, 75th seven and another 75th meeting two certificates were returned.
In same development, the NEC at its 77th meeting approved the impoundment of 93 certificates with the oldest obtained in 1990, three certificates were impounded with the oldest being 2000 and two others impounded for examination fraud at the 79th NEC meeting.
Investigations revealed that many of the “born again” Christians used the WAEC certificates to acquire higher certificates in the colleges of education, polytechnics and universities as well as postgraduate degrees.
Daily Sun gathered that these higher certificates were not part of what they returned. According to WAEC official: “They were silent on the additional qualifications obtained using the WASSCE certificates.” Seventeen certificates were impounded by WAEC NEC. At NEC 72nd meeting, nine certificates were impounded and eight at the 75th meeting.
Pastors’ reactions
Pastor Sunday Owolabi, Holyland Assembly, Ikotun, Lagos, said what the “born again” Christians did was in line with the Bible injunction: He asked: “What happened to higher certificates they acquired with the fraudulent WAEC certificates?
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“I am certain these former candidates used the WAEC certificates for admission and graduated. Now that they have returned WAEC certificates, I think, they should be bold enough to turn over the higher degrees to the institutions.”
Pastor Godluck Obasi, Revival Church Ministry, Yaba, Lagos, commended the “born again” Christians for retuning the certificates acquired through fraudulent means. He said for the restitution to be complete, he advised them to return the university degrees to the various institutions.
Pastor Great Daniel of Praise God Ministry, Apapa, Lagos, disagreed: “For me the ‘born again’ candidates returned what they acquired fraudulently. They worked for degrees and should be allowed to keep them. They have done the right thing by returning what they acquired through cheating but for the higher qualifications, they studied for it.”
Pastor James Ukeme, Zion Christian Aassembly, Lagos, said: “If they have given their lives to Christ, they have turned away from everything they have done in the past. Returning the certificates and degrees they acquired is not right. If they have given their lives to Christ they have abstained from all sins and they aren’t going back to what they have done.”
Pastor Elijah Chidiebere, Double Star Mandate International Ministries: “Restitution is returning unlawful things that doesn’t belong to one. It depends on the understanding of the person who wants to do the restitution. It’s right to return the WAEC certificates to clear their conscience.”
WAEC HNO on exam malpractices
WAEC Head of National Office (HNO), Dr. Amos Dangut, said of the May/June 2025 WASSCE: “The penalties for involvement in examination malpractices will always, without compromise, be meted out to erring candidates, supervisors, schools, etc, as would be approved by NEC, which is the highest decision-making organ of the council that sits on examination matters in Nigeria.
“The council has rolled out several awareness campaigns and organised seminars for school proprietors, principals, students and other key stakeholders through its branch and zonal offices nationwide to sensitise them on the effects of this evil.
“The council produced sensitisation materials such as flyers, banners, posters and other forms of reminders to further keep the message afresh in the minds of all stakeholders, especially candidates sitting the examinations.”
Exam malpractice cases in four years
In the May/June 2022 WASSCE, the results of 365,564 candidates, representing 22.83 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat the examination, were withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. This is 11.74 per cent higher than the 10.9 per cent recorded in the 2021 WASSCE for school candidates.
For school exam in 2023, the results of 262,803 candidates, representing 16.29 per cent of the candidates that sat the examination, were withheld examination malpractices. The results of May/June 2024, 215,267 candidates, representing 11.92 per cent were withheld over examination malpractices. Results of 192,089 candidates, representing 9.75 per cent were equally withheld for examination malpractices.
