WAEC Appoints Suleiman Kum as New Head of Nigeria National Office

By LOVETH-AZODO CHIJIOKE, Lagos

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Mr. Suleiman Danlami Kum as the new Head of its Nigeria National Office, succeeding Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut.

Kum, a seasoned test developer, administrator and executive, joined WAEC in 1998 and rose through various positions to become Senior Deputy Registrar in 2024.

Before his latest appointment, he served as Deputy Registrar in the Head of National Office’s office. He had also held several senior positions within the council, including Director of Administration and Senior Deputy Registrar/Test Administration.

Kum’s career at WAEC has seen him serve in key operational and administrative roles across the council’s offices in Awka, Yola, Makurdi, Gusau, Kano, Port Harcourt and Ikeja.

He also served as Head of the Security Printing Department, where he was involved in technological and administrative innovations, including the introduction of Variable Data Prints and enhanced code security features.

According to WAEC, Kum also pioneered the establishment of the Gusau office as a Custodial Centre, while contributing to the replacement of council-wide attendance systems with facial recognition biometric devices.

He was also involved in the delivery of Achievement Tests using the Computer-Based Examination (CBE) mode.

Born on October 16, 1970, in Minna, Niger State, Kum hails from Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

He obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production, with Second Class Honours (Upper Division), from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in 1992.

He later obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in 2025 and is currently completing a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning from the institution.

Kum began his professional career in 1993 during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployment to the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he served as Head of the Animal Production Unit.

He subsequently taught at Baptist High School, Jos, where he served in various capacities between 1995 and 1998 before joining WAEC.

WAEC said Kum has extensive experience in test development, examination administration, examination security, as well as branch and zonal office management.

He has attended several national and international trainings, symposia and conferences, including programmes in the United Kingdom, and has published works in national and international volumes as well as presented academic and professional papers.

Kum is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

He is expected to bring his experience in examination administration, security, technology and institutional management to his new role as Head of the Nigeria National Office.