The federal government has mandated that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) fully transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all examinations by 2026.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, made this announcement on Monday, April 28, during a monitoring exercise of ongoing examinations alongside officials from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari, Abuja. This directive aligns with the recent commencement of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which kicked off on April 24, a day earlier than originally scheduled, across various CBT centers nationwide, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), over two million candidates are participating in the 2025 UTME across Nigeria.
Dr. Alausa disclosed that WAEC and NECO will begin administering objective sections of their exams via CBT starting from November 2025. By May/June 2026, both objective and essay sections of the exams will be conducted fully through CBT platforms, The Guardian reported.
“If JAMB can successfully organize CBT exams for over 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can also achieve this transition,” Alausa stated. “Implementing full CBT will significantly curb examination malpractice and improve the integrity of our national exams.”
Additionally, Alausa revealed that a special committee is currently reviewing examination standards across the country, with recommendations expected to be finalized and submitted by next month.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that JAMB has clarified the official start time for the 2025 UTME. Contrary to circulating claims, JAMB emphasized that the exam begins at 8:00 a.m. nationwide, not 6:00 a.m. The Board explained that only verification processes commence at 6:30 a.m. to facilitate a smooth examination start, addressing criticisms raised by Peter Obi regarding early scheduling concerns.
NAN
