By joshua Ododo’s Education Reforms Gain Momentum as Kogi Public Schools Record Clean WAEC Integrity Record
***Stakeholders hail zero-tolerance policy on examination malpractice, commend Governor Ododo and Education Commissioner Wemi Jones
By Hon. Oniwaye Olusegun John, APC Stalwart, Kogi State
LOKOJA — Kogi State’s drive to restore integrity, discipline and confidence in public education is receiving fresh attention following claims that no government-owned secondary school in the state featured among schools sanctioned for examination malpractice in the latest West African Examinations Council (WAEC) report.
The development has been described by supporters of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration as a significant indication that the state’s renewed emphasis on supervision, accountability and examination integrity is beginning to yield results.
The administration has consistently identified education as a key pillar of its development agenda. In May 2026, the state government said it was strengthening measures to maintain malpractice-free examinations, with Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, urging principals, administrators and supervisors to strictly comply with WAEC guidelines and warning that negligence, collusion or compromise would attract sanctions under the Kogi State Education Law.
The government has also highlighted measures aimed at improving examination preparedness and educational planning, including training students ahead of the transition to computer-based examinations and the implementation of a comprehensive 2026 school census.
At the centre of the state’s campaign for greater examination discipline is Commissioner Wemi Jones, FCIB, whose approach has focused on closer monitoring of schools and stronger adherence to examination regulations.
According to the statement by APC stalwart, Hon. Oniwaye Olusegun John, the reported clean record represents a departure from an era when allegations of malpractice cast a shadow over some public examination centres in the state.
He argued that the development could strengthen public confidence in government-owned schools and reinforce the credibility of certificates earned by Kogi students.
“Governor Ododo has provided the political will, while the Ministry of Education is translating that vision into practical reforms,” the statement said, describing the development as evidence of a growing culture of accountability within the education system.
The emphasis on examination integrity comes against the backdrop of continuing national efforts by examination bodies to combat malpractice. WAEC, for instance, has continued to warn schools, supervisors and invigilators against practices capable of undermining the credibility of public examinations.
For Kogi, the challenge now is to sustain the momentum. Beyond securing a clean examination record, education stakeholders say the ultimate test will be whether the reforms translate into improved learning outcomes, stronger infrastructure, better teaching standards and consistently competitive performance by Kogi students.
Hon. Oniwaye maintained that the reported achievement should therefore be viewed not merely as an examination statistic but as part of a broader effort to rebuild confidence in the state’s public education system.
He commended Governor Ododo for what he described as his commitment to education and praised Hon. Wemi Jones for his role in driving the ministry’s reform agenda.
“With Governor Ododo leading and Wemi Jones driving implementation, Kogi’s education sector is steadily regaining public confidence and positioning itself for greater national recognition,” he said.
— By Hon. Oniwaye Olusegun John, APC Stalwart, Kogi State