17-year-old emerges WAEC’s best candidate, records 9As in WASSCE

Seventeen -year-old former student of Oritamefa Baptist Model School, Ibadan, Oyo state, Master David Babalola was yesterday honoured as the best candidate in the

May/June West African Senior Certificate Examination (WASSCE) taken by over 1.5million candidates nationwide.

At a colourful award ceremony held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, WAEC International office, Ikeja, Lagso during the 54th Annual Meeting of Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of West African Examinations Council (WAEC), master Babalola and two other candidates were rewarded for their performance in the May/June 2015 WASSCE.

Also, at the occasion, WAEC honoured Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja for producing the best overall results in the May/June 2015 WASSCE. The college also produced the best female candidate, Nkata Ugonma with 9As.

Aside Babalola who obtained 9As in the school exam to emerged the best candidate, 17-year-old, Master Philip Alabi formerly of Our Lady and St Francis Catholic College, Osogbo, Osun state placed second with 9As while 17-year-old Miss Nkata formerly of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja recorded 9As in the May/June WASSCE came third.

In the May/June 2015 WASSCE, with exam number 4310 83/059, Master Babalola recorded 9A1 in Data Processing, Civic Education, English Language, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Yoruba Language with total T-score of 673.7626.

Master Alabi with exam number 430313/053 obtained 9As in Geography, Animal Husbandry, English Language, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics with total T-score of 667.1802. Miss Nkata, with exam number 4020617/045 scored 9AS in Economics, Catering Craft Practice, English Language, Further Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Studies and has a T-score of 660.2430.

Currently, the three best candidates are studying Medicine and Surgery (Babalola) at University of Ibadan, Alabi Medicine and Surgery at UI and Miss Nkata is studying in UK. They were represented at the award ceremony by their parents.

The best school in the May/June WASSCE went to Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja founded in 1996 and the school was presented with the Augustus Bandele Oyediran trophy which was received by the Principal, Rev. Fr. Joe-Stanis Okoye (SJ) and Vice Principal (academics) Sister Callista Ahachi.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Governor of Lagos state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode , said over the years, WAEC has played a key role in human capacity development of Nigerians and the West African region stressing ‘’the council remains one of the respectable institutions that has maintained its credibility and acceptance’’.

Ambode disclosed that the gathering presents stakeholders the opportunity of sharing opinions and strategies for curriculum development and measurement in an increasing knowledge driven environment anchored on technological development.

He said in recent years, the unimpressive performance of students in WAEC conducted senior school certificate examinations has been a source of concern for government and stakeholders at all levels.

‘’Based on the general performance level of students who sit for examinations organized by WAEC, governments have recognized the need to address the deficiencies in the education sector covering areas such as quality of teaching, non conducive learning environment, inadequate infrastructure and defective curriculum’’, he noted.

According to him, his administration has focused on the basic issues in its efforts to restore confidence in the public school system noting that the move has yielded result as evidenced by the performance recorded in 2016 WASSCE which is 50.41 per cent as against last year’s 37.27 per cent.

Chairman of Nigeria National Committee (NNC), Mrs. Anne Okonkwo, said the council over the years has improved on its service delivery and embraced technology to power its activities including online registration and e-marking.

Okonkwo explained that the candidates are honoured because of their performance in May/June WASSCE and the award is meant to encourage youths to take their studies serious and do well in public examinations.

Three best schools in Lagos state Lagoon School, Lekki, S       agab College, Ikorodu and Wellspring College, Omole Phase 2, Ikeja were presented with books for obtaining the best aggregate results in the May/June 2015 WASSCE. The council also used the occasion to honour nine senior staff for long service (20 years) award.

SUNNEWSONLINE