Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has approved the payment of N529,699,500 to cover the 2025 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for 26,158 final-year students in public secondary schools across all 27 local government areas.
The payment ceremony was held on Friday at the Quality Assurance Office in Maiduguri, presided over by the Honourable Commissioner of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Alhaji Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe.
Wakilbe stated that this initiative reflects Governor Zulum’s deep commitment to making education accessible and equitable, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
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He highlighted that the government consistently subsidises 75% of WASSCE registration fees for eligible public school students.
“This sustained investment underscores the governor’s broader vision of an inclusive education system where no child is left behind,”.
He emphasised a key achievement of this policy: public school students now receive their examination results concurrently with their counterparts in private schools, promoting fairness and equal opportunity.
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With this latest payment, the total government expenditure on external examination fees since 2019 has reached a staggering ₦3,523,182,800, benefiting a total of 165,442 students.
The Commissioner acknowledged the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for its continued partnership, particularly for extending examination centres to all parts of the state, including Askira Uba and Ngala LGAs this year.
This expansion eliminates the need for students to relocate to Maiduguri for exams, easing pressure on boarding facilities and enhancing safety and logistics.
The Commissioner also extended gratitude to key stakeholders, including the Chairmen of Gubio, Kaga, Askira Uba, Ngala, Bama, Damboa, Mafa, Dikwa, Monguno, Mobbar, Gwoza, Magumeri, and Chibok LGAs, for providing vital logistical support.
Special appreciation was also given to the Special Adviser on Education, Hon. Abubakar Tijjani; the Director of the Education Resource Centre, Abba Sheriff; and all local government education secretaries for their oversight.
“This milestone is a strong indication of the progress we are making in post-insurgency educational recovery and a testament to the resilience of our students, teachers, and communities,” Wakilbe concluded.
Confirming the receipt of the payment, Dr Leonard Mado Odoh, Deputy Registrar and Zonal Coordinator of the WAEC Zonal Office Maiduguri, expressed profound appreciation for Governor Zulum’s consistent support.
“We’re here with my colleagues at the West African Examinations Council on a delegation by the head of the national office WAEC to receive the payment from the Borno State Government.”
“A historical event that didn’t start today. A great landmark by Gov. Zulum and the executive by the Honourable Commissioner of Education, as announced today, is to the tune of N529,699,500”