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| Photo credit — Dr Amos Josiah Dangut |
Nigerian education administrator Dr Amos Josiah Dangut has formally assumed office as the 14th Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
Dangut took over the role on 1 October 2026 at the council’s headquarters in Accra, Ghana. He succeeds Alhaji Pateh Bah of The Gambia and will serve a five-year term ending in September 2031.
The appointment was ratified by WAEC’s International Governing Board at its 74th Annual Meeting held in Accra in March 2026.
Until his elevation, Dangut served as Head of the WAEC National Office in Nigeria, a position he held from October 2023. His move to the regional leadership role places a long-serving Nigerian examination administrator at the helm of one of West Africa’s most important educational institutions.
Background and Career Path
Born on 2 October 1967, Dangut holds a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production, a Master’s degree and PhD in Animal Science, and a Master’s degree in Education Administration and Planning. He began his professional career in education in 1994 at St. Louis College, Jos, where he also worked as a WAEC examiner. He joined the council full-time in 1998.
Over more than two decades, he progressed through key operational and leadership roles. These included Assistant Registrar and Subject Officer in the Test Development Division in Lagos, Head of Examinations Security and Deputy Branch Controller in Uyo and Bauchi, Branch Controller in Yola, Controller of the Post Examinations Department, Zonal Coordinator of the Ikeja Zonal Office, and Deputy Registrar before becoming Head of the Nigerian National Office.
WAEC has highlighted his expertise in test development, examination administration, and the use of information and communications technology to strengthen processes across examination development, administration, and post-examination activities.
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Digital Reforms Under His Leadership in Nigeria
As Head of the National Office, Dangut oversaw several significant technology-driven initiatives.
These included the rollout of Computer-Based WASSCE, the serialisation of question papers, and the introduction of a Digital Electronic Marking System. He also supervised the development and operation of the Digital Certificate Portal, the WAEC E-Study Platform, a Digital Records Archive, and digital systems for examination logistics, timetable management, and monitoring examiners’ attendance.
These reforms aimed to improve examination security, efficiency, and accessibility—areas that remain central to public confidence in WAEC results across the region.
In addition to his internal roles, Dangut has served on the governing boards of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB), and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), as well as the Grange Educational Foundation. He has represented WAEC at key education policy forums, including the Joint Consultative Committee on Education and the National Council on Education. He currently serves as the West African sub-region’s representative on the Executive Board of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa.
WAEC described him as a professional who has demonstrated integrity, transparency, diligence, and commitment to service. He has also published academic works in national and international journals and presented papers at conferences.
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What This Appointment Means
Dangut’s elevation comes at a time when West African examination bodies continue to face pressure around examination integrity, the shift to digital assessment, and the need to maintain credibility of results used for university admissions and employment. His track record with computer-based testing and digital systems in Nigeria positions him to drive further modernisation across WAEC’s member countries.
Stakeholders will be watching how the new Registrar balances technological innovation with the practical realities of infrastructure, teacher readiness, and candidate access in different parts of the region.
The official announcement was made by Demianus Ojijeogu, Head of Public Affairs at WAEC Headquarters in Accra.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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