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•Bag national distinction awards for outstanding performances in WASSCE 2022
By Gabriel Dike
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has rewarded three whiz kids for their outstanding performance in the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with cash, certificates and trophies. They were presented with National Distinction Awards.
L-R: Dangnut, Mrs. Augustina, Mr. & Mrs. Obidigbo, Mamman and others at presentation
The first prize went to Chioma Blessing Obidigbo of St. Paul’s Academy, Plateau State. The second prize went to Valor Mbre Inyang, Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak, Akwa-Ibom State, and Ayomide Benjamin Olumide-Attah, St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Agege, Lagos, won the third prize. They received the awards at the 61st annual meeting of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC), in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Chairman, WAEC Endowment Fund, Mr. Godwin Uzoigwe, said: “One of the objectives of the fund is to support awards for outstanding performances by candidates in the member countries. In 1984, the council instituted two categories of awards. International awards for candidates in more than one member country and the national awards, restricted in scope to each member country.
“For a candidate to be eligible, he or she must obtain a minimum of eight As, one of the three highest T-scores. The raw scores of the eligible candidates are standardised and the T-scores are used to rank the candidates.
“Candidates are considered under merit awards only if enough candidates’ do not qualify for the distinction awards. The eligibility criteria for merit award are the same as those of distinction award, except that a candidate must obtain a grade not lower than two in English Language.
“The results of candidates eligible for an award should have been obtained at the attempt at one and the same sitting. The grades would also have been obtained without any hint of impropriety.”
The overall best winner, 18-year-old Blessing, is studying Biological Sciences, Furman University, United States of America. She scored a T-score of 618.3579, to beat 1,600,000 others. Early this year, she was rewarded by the council as the overall third-best candidate in West Africa.
Blessing obtained distinctions in eight subjects, including Marketing, A1, English Language, A1, General Mathematic, A1, Biology, A1, Chemistry, A1, Physics, A1, Civic Education, A1 and Agricultural Science, A1.
Second prize winner, 17-year-old Inyang, obtained distinctions in eight subjects: Marketing, A1, English Language, A1, General Mathematics, A1, Civic Education, A1, Further Mathematics, A1, Physics, A1, Economics, A1, and Technical Drawing, A1. She had a T-score of 608.7089 and intends to study Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering in Germany.
Seventeen-year-old Olumide-Attah, scored a T-score of 606,5408 as the overall third best candidate. He has been offered admission to study Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Waterloo, United Kingdom. He obtained Christian Religious Knowledge, A1, Civic Education, A1, English Language, A1, Further Mathematics, A1, General Mathematics, A1, Chemistry, A1, Physics, A1, and Technical Drawing, A1.
Chioma was represented by her parents. Her dad, Matthew, said in primary and secondary school she always took first position. He told The Education Report that she has made the family proud. Her principal, Mrs. Augustina Udeozo, described Blessing as “a first class brain, an exceptional student and maintained distinction in her examinations.”
Deputy administrator, St. Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Rev. Fr. Franklyn Ibeli, said: “It is hard work being rewarded and it is consistent. Benjamin is the best and we appreciate the efforts of the teachers who made this award possible.”
Chairman, NNC, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, said: “The three best schools in the WASSCE 2022 in Nasarawa State will be presented with the $5,000 WAEC Endowment Fund book prizes. The schools are Gradams Faith Academy, Masaka; God’s Grace International Academy, Ado, Karo and Government Secondary School, Awogenshen .
“The best overall male and the best overall female will be crowned with the Omo N’Oba Erediauwa Coronation Trophy, while the school with best aggregate score will receive the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Trophy.
“For the first time, national awards will be given to candidates with special needs (visually impaired category). These various honours are accompanied with cash prizes, cheques and certificates.”
WAEC Head of Nation Office (HNO), Nigeria, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, said: “NNC is the highest policy-making organ of the council in Nigeria. Membership of the committee is made up of experienced and distinguished Nigerians. Many of them are serving officers in the education sector, representing a wide range of interests in the affairs of the council.
“The committee ensures the policies of the council are formulated and executed in the best public interest, and to guarantee the smooth conduct of the council’s operations.”
The three schools were presented library books worth Five Thousand United States Dollars be donated each year, to the three best schools in the state hosting the annual meeting of the Nigeria National Committee.
The first donation of the book prize awards was made in 2013 to Benue State. In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, it was the turn of Niger, Ondo, Lagos, Katsina, Cross River states, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Anambra, Oyo and Delta states, respectively.
Governor Abdullahi Sule said he was impressed when he was informed that the council would honour the three best schools in WASSCE 2022 from the state: “I congratulate these three schools that have made us proud
“I wish to say a big thank you to WAEC for this investment in our children’s future. I also want to congratulate other students and school awardees in different categories.”
