18-Year-Old "Samuel Nder" Emerges Best Candidate In WAEC With 9 Distinctions

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, Ondo state during the 53rd Annual Meeting of Nigera 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 emerged 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, Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said as a demonstration of the state’s avowed commitment to nation building through the apparatus of educational development.

His words: ‘’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.

Mrs Okonkwo use the opportunity laud the federal and other state governments for their support to the council over the years even as she thanked 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.