May/June WASSCE: 18-yr-old Samuel Nder makes 9 distinctions to em

Eighteen-year-old former student of Vaatia College,
Makurdi, Benue State, Master Samuel Nder was on
Thursday, November 26, honoured as the best candidate
in the May/June West African Senior Certificate
Examination (WASSCE) taken by over 1.7million
candidates nationwide.
At a colourful award ceremony held in Akure, the Ondo
State capital during the 53rd Annual Meeting of Nigeria
National Committee (NNC) of West African Examinations
Council (WAEC), Master Nder and two other candidates
were rewarded for their performance in the May/June
2014 WASSCE.
Aside
Nder who
obtained
9A1s in
the
school
exam to
emerge
the best
candidate, 18-year-old, Miss Onyinye Oguejiofor formerly
of Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, Anambra State
placed second with 9A1s, while 17-year-old Master
Oluwatobi Raji formerly of St Francis Catholic Secondary
School, Idimu, Lagos, recorded 9A1s in the WASSCE.
In the May/June 2014 WASSCE, with exam number
4081345036, Master Nder recorded A1 in Economic,
Geography, English Language, Further Mathematics,
Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics with total
T-score of 659.4325, while Miss Ogueijiofor’s T-score
was 648.5706 and Master Raji had T-score 640.2125.
Currently, the best candidate is studying Software
Engineering at Saint Peterburg’s Electro-Technical
University in Russia, Miss Onyinye is studying Medicine
and Surgery at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and
Master Raji is studying Petroleum Engineering at the
University of Lagos.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Ondo State Governor,
Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said his administration is
commited to nation building through the apparatus of
educational development.
Mimiko said: “We have always welcomed with passion
any educational programme that the state is privileged to
host. Our passion is always borne out of the convictions
that, no nation can ever rise above the quality of her
education. This is because education is the vital organ
and the very pivot around which all national life
resolves.’’
Mimiko who was represented by the Deputy Governor,
Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Oluboyo, commended WAEC for its
unrelenting efforts in conducting standard examinations
and producing credible results over the years.
The governor congratulated the three best schools in the
state that were honoured by the council for their
candidates performance in the May/June 2014 WASSCE
and appreciated WAEC for it investment in the future of
the children.
The chairman of WAEC NNC, Mrs. Anne Okonkwo said
the awards are aimed at encouraging the youth to strive
for excellence in their academic pursuits noting ‘’it is my
hope that some of the youth who are here today to
witness this ceremony, will be challenged by these
Awards to work harder in order to win similar laurels in
future.’’
She also disclosed that NNC would present books to the
three best schools in the May/June 2014 WASSCE from
Ondo State, stressing that it was in accordance with the
decision of the Nigeria Sub-Board of the WAEC
Endowment Fund Board of Trustees at its 4th meeting
held in November, 2012.
This is even as she also lauded the federal and other
state governments for their support to the council over
the years, as well as thanking the host Governor Mimko
for his investment in education and the performance of
schools in the state in WASSCE.
The Head of National Office (HNO), Mr. Charles Eguridu,
disclosed that the NNC ensures that the policies of the
council in Nigeria are decided in the best public interest,
and appropriate decisions are taken at all times, for the
smooth conduct of the WAEC’s operations.
Eguridu appreciated the support and understanding
which the state government has continued to give to the
council in its efforts to improve service delivery to
numerous stakeholders in the state and Nigeria as a
whole.
At the event, 40 WAEC staff were given long service
award for their 20 years meritoriously service in various
capacities while Governor Mimiko described the
awardees as worthy ambassadors of the council and
wished them more years of productive service to the
council and the nation at large.