The Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has taken disciplinary action against 118 public and private secondary schools over allegations of examination malpractice.
Several high-profile schools were implicated. Following its meeting, the NEC issued stern warnings to 109 schools and withdrew recognition from nine others due to irregularities during the May/June 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
“The Nigeria Examinations Committee investigated numerous reported cases of examination malpractice and subsequently resolved to warn or derecognize the schools listed,” said L.O. Oluju, Senior Deputy Registrar.
Among the schools issued warnings are Kings College, Lagos; CMS Grammar School, Bariga; Igbobi College, Yaba; Baptist Girls Academy, Obanikoro; Lagos State Model Senior College, Kankon; Whitesands School, Lekki; Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye; Keke Senior High School; and Solomon Grace Secondary School, Abule-Egba.
Others include Immaculate Heart School, Maryland; Lagos City College, Yaba; Saint Timothy’s College, Onike; Ilupeju Senior Grammar School; Gbaja Senior Girls High School, Akerele; Jakande Estate Comprehensive Senior College, Akesan; Onward High School, Ikate; Coker Senior Secondary School, Orile Iganmu; Iponri Estate Senior High School; Brainstar College, Okota; Bamfem Comprehensive High School, Magbon; and Festac Senior Grammar School, Festac Town.
The nine schools that were derecognized are: Lagos Baptist Senior High School, Agege; Assfood International College, Ketu; Greendome High School, Oworoshoki; Community Senior Secondary School, Adeniran Ogunsanya; Eunice College, Odutola; Lagout Ajasa; Command Griffiths College, Igbobi-Ikorodu; Submile College, Ojo; Rose Bethel Comprehensive High School, Mosafejo, Ojo; and Lily Pride Comprehensive High School, Igando.
Of these, two are state-owned while seven are privately run. The nine derecognized schools did not present candidates for the ongoing May/June 2025 WASSCE. Instead, their students were relocated to other schools for the exams.
A total of 1,805,216 candidates from 25,126 recognized secondary schools participated in the examination. WAEC also administered the exam to candidates from schools in the Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigerian senior secondary curriculum is in use.
WAEC withheld the results of 215,267 candidates—11.92% of the total—due to various cases of examination malpractice. The council also expressed concern over the continued use of mobile phones in examination halls and reports of coordinated cheating in some schools, despite existing bans.
