Your Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Abass Chernor Bundu

Minister of Basic & Senior Secondary Education, Hon. Conrad Sackey

Cabinet Ministers

Members of Parliament

Vice Chairman of Council, Dr. Ebrima Sisawo

Chief Government Nominees and Members of Council

The Registrar to Council, Mr. Pateh Bah

Heads of National Office

Your Worship, the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, OBE

Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corp

Former Chairmen of Council

Former Registrars to Council

Former Heads of National Office

WAEC Members of Staff and Retirees of the Council

Principals and Heads of Schools

Excellence Award Winners and Parents

Teachers and Students

Members of the Press

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is with immense pleasure that I welcome you all on this august occasion of the formal opening of the 72^nd Annual Council Meeting of The West African Examinations Council (WAEC). With special appreciation and humility, I welcome His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. We are profoundly grateful to you, Sir, for making time out of your very busy schedule to officially open this year’s Annual Council Meeting in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We do not take such a gesture for granted.

Your Excellency, I convey to you personally, and the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone compliments of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and warm greetings from Members of Council, Registrar to Council, Heads of National Office, and indeed, the entire management and staff of WAEC in The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, WAEC was established in 1952 with a mandate to determine the examinations required in the public interest in English-speaking West African countries, to conduct those examinations, and to award certificates of international standards to deserving candidates. WAEC has executed its mandate successfully for 72 years in the five member countries.

Of all the regional bodies established during the colonial period, WAEC is the only body that has weathered the storm of extinction due largely to the quality of its structures, administrative setups, and procedures that the Council has evolved and maintained over the years, which are highly effective, viable, and sustainable. More importantly, the Council’s survival and successes through the years are due to the support, cooperation, and goodwill of the governments of its member countries.

However, one of the challenges the organisation is facing currently, is the nonpayment of contributions by member countries to the WAEC Headquarters. The Headquarters is responsible for coordinating all activities in member countries, including the conduct of examinations and without the necessary funds, almost all activities will grind to a halt. Nigeria is the only fully paid-up member and that is what is sustaining the organization in its operations. This is worrying.

The Council is doing all it can to confront examination malpractice head on.  It is not surprising therefore, that the first of the five key pillars of our strategic plan is credible examinations. Indeed, that is why we exist. It gives us much worry therefore when we hear of persistence incidence of examination malpractice in public examinations, because it represents a threat to public confidence in the credibility of the examination system. I appeal to all member countries and governments to support WAEC’s crusade to eliminate completely this threat and I call on all stakeholders to join hands to address the menace.

This being the last Annual Council Meeting that I will preside, let me seize the opportunity, Mr. Vice President to thank you, the Government and people of Sierra Leone and all member countries for the enormous support and cooperation I have received during my three-year tenure in office as Chairman of Council. It is my hope that my successor will likewise enjoy every support from you.

At this ceremony, various awards will be presented to deserving candidates and personalities under the auspices of the WAEC Endowment Fund. I most heartily congratulate all the award recipients. At this ceremony also, the prestigious Award of the Distinguished Friend of Council will be conferred on an eminent citizen of Sierra Leone, Prof. Jonas A. S. Redwood-Sawyerr, for his invaluable contributions to the Council’s achievements and the sub-region’s educational development.

Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in ending my address, I would like to thank you once again, most sincerely for honouring our invitation. We are indeed very grateful.

I thank you for your attention.