Education | News
WAEC Appoints Suleiman Kum as New Head of Nigeria National Office
The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has appointed Suleiman Danlami Kum as the new Head of its Nigeria National Office.
Kum succeeds Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, who has assumed office as WAEC’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer. Dangut became the council’s 14th Registrar on October 1, 2026, with a five-year tenure scheduled to run until September 2031.
Kum Brings 28 Years of WAEC Experience
WAEC described Kum as a seasoned test developer, examination administrator and executive with nearly three decades of experience in the council.
He joined WAEC on July 17, 1998, as Assistant Registrar II and rose through the organisation to become Senior Deputy Registrar in 2024. Before his appointment as Head of the Nigeria National Office, Kum served as Deputy Registrar in the office of the HNO.
Born on October 16, 1970, in Minna, Niger State, Kum is from Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State. He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, earned in 1992 with Second Class Honours, Upper Division.
He also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria in 2025 and is currently completing a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning at the institution.
Career Across Key WAEC Units
Kum has held several operational and leadership positions across WAEC’s Nigerian structure.
| Previous position | Area of responsibility |
| Head of Examination Security | Awka, Yola and Makurdi |
| Branch Controller | Gusau and Kano |
| Head of Security Printing | Security printing operations |
| Zonal Coordinator | Port Harcourt and Ikeja |
| Director of Administration | National administration |
| Senior Deputy Registrar | Test Administration |
| Deputy Registrar | Office of the Head of National Office |
His broad experience covers examination security, branch management, security printing, zonal operations, administration and test administration.
WAEC also credited Kum with contributions to operational and technology-related initiatives, including Variable Data Printing, strengthened code-security features, facial-recognition biometric attendance systems and the use of Computer-Based Examination modes for achievement tests.
Leadership Transition at WAEC
The appointment follows a major internal leadership transition at the regional examination body.
Dangut had headed WAEC’s Nigeria National Office since October 2023 before moving to the role of Registrar and CEO. In his new position, Dangut will oversee WAEC at the broader regional level, while Kum will lead the council’s operations in Nigeria.
The distinction is significant because WAEC serves multiple West African countries, while the Head of the Nigeria National Office is responsible specifically for the council’s Nigerian operations.
What to Watch
Kum assumes office at a time when examination bodies face sustained public attention over examination security, malpractice, result processing, candidate verification and the use of digital assessment systems.
His background in security printing, test administration and biometric technology gives him experience in several areas central to protecting examination integrity. However, WAEC has not announced any specific policy changes or reforms linked directly to his appointment.
For students, schools and other education stakeholders, the impact of the new leadership will ultimately depend on how effectively WAEC Nigeria manages examinations, strengthens public confidence and responds to the operational challenges facing the examination system.
Source: Gistreel