The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Dr Amos Josiah Dangut as its new Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, placing the Nigerian education assessment specialist at the helm of the regional examination body.
Dangut, who until recently headed WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, officially assumed the new position on October 1, 2026, for an initial five-year term ending in September 2031.
He takes over from Alhaji Pateh Bah of The Gambia and becomes the 14th person to serve as Registrar to Council.
The appointment followed its ratification by WAEC’s governing Council at the organisation’s 74th Annual Meeting in Accra, Ghana, in March 2026.
Three decades in examination administration
Dangut’s new responsibility marks the latest stage in a career spanning more than three decades in education and examination administration.
He started his professional career in 1994 at St Louis College, Jos, where he worked as a teacher and participated in WAEC examination activities as an examiner.
Four years later, he joined WAEC and subsequently built his career through a number of technical and administrative assignments within the organisation.
His responsibilities have covered test development, examination security, post-examination operations, field administration and national coordination.
Among the positions he held were Assistant Registrar in the Test Development Division in Lagos, Head of Examinations Security and Deputy Branch Controller in Uyo and Bauchi, and Branch Controller in Yola.
He also served as Controller of the Post-Examinations Department and later became Zonal Coordinator in Ikeja before rising to the position of Deputy Registrar and Head of the Nigeria National
One of the defining aspects of Dangut’s recent career has been his involvement in the digitisation of examination processes.
As Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office between October 2023 and September 2026, he was involved in the implementation of several technology-based initiatives aimed at changing how examinations are administered, marked and documented.
These included the expansion of Computer-Based WASSCE, the use of serialised question papers and the Digital Electronic Marking System.
The Nigeria National Office also introduced or strengthened platforms covering digital certificates, electronic learning, records management and examination logistics during his tenure.
The initiatives formed part of the wider shift towards reducing dependence on conventional examination processes and improving the efficiency of assessment and record management.
Dangut’s academic training combines agricultural science with education management.
He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, specialising in Animal Production, in 1991 before obtaining a Master’s degree in Animal Science three years later.
He subsequently completed a PhD in Animal Science in 2017 and added a Master’s degree in Education, specialising in Administration and Planning, in 2020.
His academic qualifications have been complemented by professional experience in examination development, assessment and educational administration.
Dangut is a Fellow of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management.
Experience beyond WAEC
His professional engagements have also extended beyond the Council.
Dangut has served on the boards of several institutions involved in Nigeria’s education sector, including the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board.
He has also represented WAEC in national education policy forums, including the Joint Consultative Committee on Education and the National Council on Education.
At the continental level, he serves as the West African sub-region’s representative on the Executive Board of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa.
His participation in these bodies has provided exposure to issues surrounding curriculum development, admission processes, examination standards and educational assessment.
Published researcher and conference participant
Beyond his administrative work, Dangut has contributed to academic literature through publications in national and international journals.
He has also delivered papers at professional and academic conferences, with his career combining research, education administration and examination management.
His record of service has attracted recognition at different stages of his career.
The Nigeria Examinations Committee previously commended his handling of examination-related responsibilities, while the Ondo State Government recognised his service during his National Youth Service Corps year.
New responsibilities at WAEC
As Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dangut will now be responsible for coordinating the operations of WAEC at the regional level and working with the Council’s member countries on examination and assessment matters.
His tenure comes at a time when education systems across West Africa are increasingly embracing digital tools and new approaches to assessment.
Issues including examination integrity, technology-driven testing, electronic marking, certification, access to examinations and the changing nature of learning are expected to remain central to the Council’s work.
Dangut’s experience in both conventional examination administration and the adoption of digital systems is therefore expected to inform his leadership of the organisation.
His appointment also represents a progression from heading WAEC’s largest national office to overseeing the Council’s broader regional operations.
The new Registrar will serve until September 2031, subject to the terms governing his appointment.
Blueprint