• Bayelsa, Anambra students emerge overall best in WASSCE

By Gabriel Dike

Two whiz kids from Bayelsa and Anambra states have emerged the overall best candidates in the May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with eight A1s. Numa Precious Keme, formerly of Ido Comprehensive Secondary School, Egbemo, Bayelsa State and Joseph Esther Chioma, former student of Keke Senior High School, Lagos, beat 1.8million other candidates in the public secondary schools category.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) honoured the two geniuses at the 63rd annual meeting of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) in Abia State. Numa obtained A1 in English Language, Marketing, Civic Education, Geography, General Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics beating 896,894 other male candidates with a total score of 526.4897.

He was accompanied to the ceremony by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Bayelsa State and the school principal. He is currently at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

He had previously won among others, Excellence Award by the school proprietor in 2016, best student in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English Language, best student of class of 2024 and winner of quiz competition between his school and Agbidiama Grammar School. In the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) he scored 253.

For Joseph, she obtained eight A1s in Book Keeping, Economics, Civil Education, English Language, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

She had a total score of 571.2183, beating 908,322 other female candidates. In the UTME, she scored 273. She is studying Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan.

Her past wins included first position, Annual Water Sanitation and Hygiene essay competition in 2022, second position, Mathematics Olympiad, Education District 1, 2023 and best graduating student in public school, Lagos State 2024 award.

Stakeholders at the award ceremony applauded the outstanding performance of Numa and Joseph as well as commend the council for recognizing public school students.

Joseph told Daily Sun that her preparation for the WASSCE was a combination of grace, dedication, discipline and consistency: “Right from when I was in JSS 2, I already knew that my evidence of passing through secondary school is my WASSCE result.

“In SS1, I had already subconsciously started preparing for my WASSCE. I started revision when we got to SS3. I attended supplementary lessons after school. I privately went to teachers to explain any part that seem fussy in me.

“I read at night, barely sleeping. This got my grandmother worried because I live with her. However, I explained to her that I would get all the sleep I need when I am done with my exams. I taught my peers and juniors. This way, I don’t forget what I might have studied over the night.

“Notwithstanding these processes, I prayed like I’ve never prayed. This is because it’s not always easy to sit for WASSCE when one is out of secondary school. I already resolve not to repeat any exam I sit for. It has been God’s grace all along.”

“I had a reading pattern. This is reading from simple to complex. I arranged my subjects’ topics in decreasing level of understanding and I read that way. This is made possible because in school, we were given scheme of work, so I knew what to expect for that term.”

Numa: “I followed brilliant students in higher classes, read ahead of the class and used WAEC past questions. I was scared of the outcome of my UMTE and WASSCE results.

“I was surprised when WAEC called to announce that I am the overall best male student from public school. I am also the first South-South student to win WAEC award. The governor is aware of my performance in WASSCE. I’m looking forward to honouring him again for making the state proud.” 

The council also presented national awards to candidates with Special Needs (visually impaired category) to the best overall male and female in the WASSCE. For the male category, it went to Ugwu Christian Chiemerie, formerly of College of Immaculate Conception, Uwani, Enugu State. He obtained Marketing A1, Government C4, Civic Education A1, CRK B2, English Language C6, Literature-in-English B3 and Agricultural Science C5.

He is studying Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. He is best overall student in SS1 and SS11 and best student in Igbo Language, Government and Civic Education.

In the female category, Abiodun Taye Olubunmi, former student of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, bagged the award. She is currently studying Educational Guidance and Counselling at the University of Ilorin.

She recorded CRK B2, Government C6, Literature-in-English C5, Civic Education A1, English Language C4, General Mathematics C6 and Fisheries B2. Her past awards included best in Government in 2022/2023 academic session, best in Literature-in-English in 2023 and best-behaved college student.