The West African Examinations Council, Nigeria, has refuted widespread rumours that the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination English Language paper has been cancelled.
A fraudulent press release dated May 30, 2025, circulated widely on social media, falsely claiming that the English Language exam conducted on May 28 had been annulled, with a new date to be announced.
However, WAEC has labelled the information as “fake” and urged the public to disregard it.
In an official statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, the examination body stated, “The management of the West African Examinations Council would like to categorically state that the press release being circulated did not originate from the council. The said examination has not been cancelled.”
WAEC emphasised that the false information appears to be the handiwork of individuals attempting to discredit the institution and mislead candidates. “The Council is certain that the false claim is being peddled by mischief-makers who are bent on bringing the Council to disrepute and causing confusion and panic among candidates who sat the examination,” the statement read.
While WAEC acknowledged that the English Language exam experienced delays on the scheduled day, it attributed the disruption to intensified efforts to prevent examination malpractice. Reports had emerged that the question paper had leaked days before the exam, prompting security measures that led to the late conduct of the paper.
“WAEC remains committed to upholding the integrity of its examinations and urges candidates, parents, and school authorities to rely solely on verified information disseminated through our official platforms,” the Council added.
WAEC also reassured stakeholders of its commitment to transparency and educational excellence. “We appreciate the continued trust and confidence reposed in us over the past 73 years. We remain committed to improving our service delivery to Nigerian students,” the statement concluded.
Earlier reports indicated that the exam was conducted late into the night, which may have fuelled concerns and speculation about its validity. However, WAEC has reiterated that such delays were precautionary and did not invalidate the exam in any way.
