WAEC launches digital certificate platform to check fraud, delays

WAEC launches digital certificate platform to check fraud, delays

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has launched its Digital Certificate platform in Lagos.

The Head, National Office (HNO), Mr Patrick Areghan, in his welcome address on Thursday, at the unveiling of the platform, said that the development was to meet up with the constant demands of a changing world.

According to him, with the advent of technology, there is the need to integrate technology with students’ lifestyles.

The HNO said that the council’s new digital platform was developed in conjunction with one of the world‘s foremost security technology providers.

He said it was being implemented to streamline the issuance and verification of certificates from all over the world.

Areghan said that the platform involved mobile and web-based application, designed specifically for candidates, individuals, institutions and organisations.

According to him, it holds powerful features that enable users to access, share, request and confirm certificates.

He said that it could also be used to recover candidates’ forgotten/lost examination numbers.

He noted that council would continue to be committed to its mission of encouraging academic and moral excellence.

The HON said it would also continue to promote sustainable human resource development and international cooperation.

According to him, the council is also committed to prompt service delivery.

He said with the development of the digital certificate platform, an important step had further been taken.

The council boss noted that since the commencement of assessment by the examination body, certificates had been issued to represent students’ performance in examinations.

He said that such certificates helped them to advance their educational development or get involved in the world of work.

“So, for centuries, academic certificates have been issued as physical paper certificates. This is the traditional certificate,” Areghan noted.

Listing some of the benefits of the digital certificate platform, the HNO said that candidates would no longer share photocopies of their certificates with institutions and organisations.

He stated that they would rather access and share copies of their original certificates, delivered straight from WAEC data base, stressing that these records would instantly be confirmed and validated.