The Federal Government has acknowledged that Nigeria will not fully meet the infrastructure requirements to conduct the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Computer-Based Test (CBT) nationwide by November 2025, according to Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa. The announcement came during his monitoring of the ongoing WAEC CBT exams in Abuja, with a full transition targeted for 2026 to curb exam malpractice and modernize the education system.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, revealed on Wednesday that while the country is progressing towards digitalizing its examination system, significant infrastructural gaps remain, particularly in remote areas. “Are we going to be ready to provide every single needed infrastructure by November? Absolutely not. But as we move into the future, we will be ready. We have to challenge ourselves as a government,” he stated.
The minister praised WAEC’s pioneering efforts in adopting CBT, describing it as a historic and bold step toward eliminating widespread exam fraud. He emphasized that digital testing offers a secure and efficient assessment method, significantly reducing cheating. “We now have clear evidence that when exams are done using technology, the level of fraud is minimized to almost zero,” Alausa said.
WAEC’s CBT system operates on a secured Local Area Network (LAN), making it “literally impossible” to hack, according to the minister. By November 2025, all WAEC multiple-choice exams are expected to be conducted via CBT, with essay questions and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams following by 2026.
The ongoing WAEC examinations, which started on April 24, 2025, involve nearly two million candidates from over 23,000 schools nationwide. The exams are scheduled to conclude on June 20, 2025, with a near-equal gender distribution among candidates.
Addressing logistical challenges, Dr. Alausa noted that the average WAEC candidate takes about eight to nine papers over several days, which requires careful administrative coordination. The government is actively working on scalable solutions to address these issues as the transition progresses.
The move to CBT is part of a broader government initiative to restore credibility and fairness in Nigeria’s examination system by leveraging technology. The Minister has also highlighted ongoing collaborations with private schools, investors, and other stakeholders to ensure a more inclusive and representative educational framework.
The shift to CBT aligns Nigeria’s examination system with global digital standards and represents a critical effort to combat endemic exam malpractice that has long undermined educational integrity. However, concerns remain about the readiness of infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and the capacity of schools to adapt swiftly to the new system.
Education experts have voiced mixed reactions, with some warning that the rapid transition could face implementation hurdles due to infrastructural and digital literacy gaps. Nonetheless, the government remains committed to full CBT adoption by 2026, aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency in national examinations.
While Nigeria may not fully achieve nationwide CBT infrastructure readiness by November 2025, the Federal Government, led by Minister Alausa, is steadfast in its commitment to complete the transition by 2026. Ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure, logistics, and stakeholder engagement will be critical in realizing this digital transformation and ensuring the integrity of Nigeria’s examination system in the years ahead
