Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has commended the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) over the introduction of new digital certification.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, in a statement on Monday, said the vice president received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a delegation of WAEC.

The delegation is in Abuja for the council’s 70th annual meeting.

WAEC had recently announced it would launch digital versions of the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) for those who had lost their original copies.

Osinbajo said that beyond core regulatory roles, government agencies must always show that they were responsible to the people that they served and that they held them in high esteem.

He said it was crucial for a regulatory body to respect citizens, be responsible to them and hold them in high esteem.

The vice president commended the examination body on the way it promptly resolved the issue of some candidates having difficulties regarding the National Identification Number (NIN).

“WAEC responded due to the challenges with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) portal at the time, the affected candidates could still sit for the exams.

“These kinds of quick responses show respect for citizens.

“Just looking at the press reports and what WAEC has done, it has shown that it is very responsive to the needs of society.

“I was particularly impressed by the new digital certification that was announced some time ago, that if one lost his/her WAEC certificate, you can apply for the digital copy, which means your records are never lost.

“There is no need for the long and hard process of seeking for a certified (physical) copy; I think this is a true response to the times; that is very good,” he said.

Osinbajo congratulated WAEC for its achievement since it was established about 70 years ago.

He said that many Nigerians had benefitted from the WAEC certification over the years.

“It (WAEC certification) is almost like a birth certificate.

“Everyone who has watched WAEC progress over the years would agree that WAEC is a huge part of our history as a nation.

“WAEC certification has that importance and it has been like that for 70 years; so, I think it is worthy of celebration and commendation, WAEC has done so very well through the years.

“So, I congratulate you, the Nigerian team, and the WAEC Council, not just for being given the special privilege of hosting the 70th anniversary, but also because we are clearly the largest contributor and beneficiary and this has been so for 70 years.”

In her remarks, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the leader of the Nigerian members of WAEC, who is also the Director, Basic, and Secondary Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, thanked the Federal Government for its support.

Abdulkadir expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the opportunity to host the 70th Annual Council Meeting, as well as, the support to the Council over the years.

She added that the council was the highest decision-making body of WAEC with membership drawn from the five-member countries – Nigeria, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ghana.

Abdulkadir said that “the Annual Council Meeting is used to deliberate on providing qualitative and educational assessment, encouraging academic and moral excellence, promoting human resource development, and promoting international cooperation among the five-member countries.”