Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Suleiman Danlami Kum as the new Head of its Nigeria National Office, following the elevation of Dr Amos Josiah Dangut to the position of Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the regional examination body.
Kum’s appointment takes effect in October 2026 and places him at the helm of WAEC’s Nigerian operations at a time when the examination council is expanding digital assessment systems and strengthening efforts to protect the integrity of its examinations.
Main Development
The appointment was announced by WAEC following the end of Dangut’s tenure as Head of the Nigeria National Office.
Kum, 56, previously served as a Senior Deputy Registrar and Head of Test Administration at the WAEC Nigeria National Office. He therefore takes over the Nigerian office with extensive experience in examination administration and the council’s operations.
He succeeds Dangut, who served as Head of the Nigeria National Office from October 2023 until September 2026 before assuming the regional position of Registrar and Chief Executive Officer on October 1.
The transition represents a change in leadership at the Nigerian office while maintaining continuity within the council’s senior management structure.
Who Is Suleiman Danlami Kum?
Kum is a long-serving WAEC official with experience across different areas of examination administration.
Before his appointment as Head of the Nigeria National Office, he held the position of Senior Deputy Registrar and Head of Test Administration.
His professional experience also includes service as a WAEC Branch Controller and Zonal Coordinator in different parts of Nigeria.
Reports on his career indicate that he has worked across different geographical areas and has been involved in coordinating examination activities, working with education authorities and supporting the implementation of WAEC regulations.
His experience in test administration is particularly relevant to the new position because the Nigeria National Office is responsible for coordinating major WAEC activities in the country.
Dangut Moves to WAEC Regional Leadership
Kum’s appointment follows a significant development in WAEC’s regional leadership.
Dangut, a Nigerian education administrator, assumed office as the council’s 14th Registrar and Chief Executive Officer on October 1, 2026.
He succeeded Alhaji Pateh Bah of The Gambia and will serve a five-year tenure running from October 2026 to September 2031.
Dangut’s appointment was ratified by WAEC’s International Governing Board at its 74th Annual Meeting in Accra, Ghana, in March 2026.
Before becoming Registrar, Dangut headed the Nigerian National Office for nearly three years.
His move to the regional headquarters created the vacancy that has now been filled by Kum.
Dangut’s Record at the Nigeria Office
During his tenure as Head of the Nigeria National Office, Dangut oversaw several initiatives aimed at modernising examination administration.
WAEC said his administration championed the rollout of Computer-Based WASSCE, the serialisation of examination question papers and the introduction of a Digital Electronic Marking System.
He also oversaw digital services including the Digital Certificate Portal, WAEC E-Study Platform and Digital Records Archive.
Other systems introduced or strengthened during the period covered examination logistics, timetable management and monitoring of examiners’ attendance.
These reforms formed part of WAEC’s broader efforts to improve examination security, efficiency and the delivery of results and certificates.
Dangut also represented WAEC on several education-related boards and forums, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
What the Leadership Change Means for WAEC Nigeria
The appointment of Kum comes as examination administration in Nigeria continues to undergo technological changes.
WAEC has been increasing the use of digital systems in different aspects of assessment, including examination delivery, marking, certification and record management.
The Nigerian office therefore faces the dual responsibility of maintaining the reliability of traditional examination processes while adapting to new technologies.
For students, schools and education authorities, the leadership of the national office is important because WAEC examinations remain a major component of secondary education and post-secondary admissions processes in Nigeria.
The office also works with schools, education ministries, examination officials and other stakeholders to coordinate examination activities across the country.
Examination Integrity Remains a Major Priority
One of the most important responsibilities facing Kum will be maintaining the credibility of WAEC examinations.
Examination malpractice remains a longstanding concern in Nigeria, with WAEC regularly taking disciplinary measures against candidates, schools and other actors involved in examination violations.
Kum’s previous experience in test administration could be particularly relevant as the council continues efforts to strengthen examination security.
His career has included responsibilities involving examination coordination and enforcement of WAEC regulations.
In 2022, reports indicated that he was involved in issuing de-recognition letters to secondary schools in Rivers State that had been implicated in mass examination malpractice.
Such experience places examination integrity among the issues likely to remain central to his new responsibilities.
Digital Transformation of WAEC Examinations
WAEC has increasingly embraced technology as part of its examination reforms.
The council’s move towards Computer-Based WASSCE is part of a broader transition in assessment methods.
Digital marking and electronic certificate systems are also intended to improve efficiency while reducing some of the risks associated with manual examination processes.
However, technological transformation also presents challenges.
Students and schools must have access to adequate infrastructure, including electricity, computers and reliable connectivity where digital examinations are conducted.
The national office will therefore have to balance technological ambitions with the practical realities faced by schools across Nigeria.
This is particularly important in rural and underserved communities where access to digital infrastructure can be considerably lower than in major urban centres.
The Role of the Nigeria National Office
WAEC operates across several West African countries, making its national offices important links between the regional council and individual education systems.
The Nigeria National Office coordinates WAEC activities within one of the council’s largest participating countries.
Its responsibilities include examination administration, engagement with schools and education authorities, test-related operations and implementation of policies established by the council.
The head of the national office therefore plays an important role in ensuring that examinations are conducted according to established standards.
The position also requires regular engagement with stakeholders across Nigeria’s education sector.
Education Stakeholders Await Kum’s Administration
Kum’s appointment is likely to attract attention from schools, teachers, students, parents and education authorities as he begins his tenure.
His previous experience within WAEC provides institutional knowledge that could help ensure continuity following Dangut’s departure from the Nigerian office.
At the same time, his administration will face expectations to maintain the credibility of WAEC examinations and improve the efficiency of examination services.
Stakeholders are also likely to watch how the new leadership approaches the council’s digital transformation agenda.
The success of those reforms will depend not only on technology but also on training, infrastructure, examination security and effective coordination with schools.
Why the Appointment Matters
The appointment matters because WAEC examinations affect millions of students and are widely used as a measure of secondary-school achievement across West Africa.
In Nigeria, performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination can influence students’ progression to higher education and other opportunities.
Any disruption or decline in examination credibility can therefore have consequences beyond the examination system itself.
For Kum, maintaining public confidence will be an important part of his new role.
That confidence depends on the consistent application of examination rules, secure handling of examination materials, credible marking processes and timely delivery of results and certificates.
His background in test administration gives him direct experience with several of these responsibilities.
What Happens Next
Kum is expected to assume full responsibility for the WAEC Nigeria National Office following the leadership transition.
The immediate focus will include maintaining ongoing examination operations, working with schools and education authorities and continuing the council’s efforts to strengthen examination security and digital services.
The transition also means that Dangut will now focus on his responsibilities as WAEC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer at the regional level.
His five-year tenure places him in a position to influence policy and administration across the wider West African examination system.
For Nigeria, Kum’s appointment provides continuity at the national office while WAEC enters a new phase under Dangut’s regional leadership.
The effectiveness of that transition will ultimately be measured by the quality, security and reliability of examinations administered across the country.
With a career rooted in WAEC’s test administration structure, Kum takes charge of the Nigerian office at a time when the council is balancing technological transformation with the continuing need to protect examination integrity.
His tenure will therefore be closely watched by students, schools, parents and education authorities across Nigeria.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- West African Examinations Council
- WAEC Nigeria
- The PUNCH
- Vanguard
- The Nation
- Independent Newspapers
- Channels Television
- Nigerian Tribune
