By TheDailyNewsHub News Desk | October 3, 2026
Nigerian education administrator Dr Amos Josiah Dangut has officially assumed office as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), taking charge of the regional examination body for a five-year term.
Dangut became the council’s 14th Registrar on October 1, 2026, succeeding Pateh Bah of The Gambia. His tenure is scheduled to run until September 2031, according to a statement issued by WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Demianus Ojijeogu, at the council’s headquarters in Accra, Ghana.
The development was reported on October 2, following Dangut’s formal assumption of office. His appointment had earlier been ratified by WAEC’s International Governing Board, known as the Council, at its 74th Annual Meeting held in Accra in March 2026.
His elevation places a Nigerian at the head of the organisation responsible for coordinating major secondary-school examinations across West Africa. WAEC plays a central role in the administration of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), alongside other assessment and certification activities in its member countries.
Before taking up the regional position, Dangut served as Head of WAEC’s National Office in Nigeria from October 2023 until September 2026. He was responsible for overseeing the council’s Nigerian operations during a period in which it pursued changes to examination delivery, assessment processes and digital services.
Born on October 2, 1967, in Mbar District of Bokkos Local Government Area, Plateau State, Dangut has an academic background spanning agriculture, animal science and education administration.
He obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in 1991, followed by a Master of Science in Animal Science from the University of Ibadan in 1994. He later earned a PhD in Animal Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, in 2017, and a Master of Education in Administration and Planning from the National Open University of Nigeria in 2020.
His career in education began in 1994 when he joined St Louis College, Jos, where he also served as a WAEC examiner. Four years later, he joined the examination council as an Assistant Registrar.
Over the years, he worked in several departments and offices, gaining experience in test development, examination security, post-examination administration and the management of regional offices. His previous assignments included roles in Lagos, Uyo, Bauchi, Yola and Ikeja.
He rose through the organisation to become Deputy Registrar before his appointment as Head of the Nigerian National Office in October 2023.
WAEC said Dangut’s experience includes the use of information and communications technology to improve examination development, administration and post-examination processes.
During his time leading the Nigerian office, the council highlighted initiatives including the introduction of Computer-Based WASSCE, the serialisation of examination question papers and a Digital Electronic Marking System. Other services associated with the administration included the Digital Certificate Portal, WAEC E-Study Platform and Digital Records Archive.
These initiatives form part of WAEC’s broader efforts to modernise examination administration, strengthen examination security and improve access to its services. Their continued implementation and effectiveness will remain important areas of interest for candidates, schools and education stakeholders across the region.
Dangut has also served on the governing boards of several Nigerian education institutions, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. He has represented WAEC at education policy forums, including the Joint Consultative Committee on Education and the National Council on Education.
He is also the West African sub-region’s representative on the Executive Board of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa. WAEC’s profile identifies him as a Fellow of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management.
The transition comes at a time when examination bodies across the region are increasingly incorporating digital tools into registration, testing, marking and certificate verification. For WAEC, maintaining the credibility of its examinations while adapting to technological changes remains a major institutional responsibility.
Dangut’s five-year tenure will therefore place him at the centre of decisions affecting examination standards, assessment systems, institutional coordination and the delivery of services to millions of candidates across West Africa.