Gov. Ishaku Commissions New WAEC Office in Jalingo

By Nick Dugba

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has commissioned the new WAEC office and a utility vehicle in Jalingo, with a charge on Principals, teachers and students to sit up to their responsibilities so that the efforts wouldn’t be wasted.

The governor was at the commissioning of the new office of the examination body at the former Government Teachers College, Jalingo.

In his speech, Gov. Ishaku appreciated WAEC for “the good work and service delivery” in the state and that the government would continue to contribute to WAEC.

The governor then berated previous administrations for their careless criticisms warning them that if “they talked carelessly, he would reply them carelessly”.

He praised WAEC for keying into the “rescue agenda” saying education was the pivot of development and promised to do all it can to develop the education sector.

Earlier on in his speech, The Taraba state Commissioner of Education, Johannes Jigem, listed the achievements of the Ishaku administration to include: re-engineering the train the trainers workshop, distribution of instructional materials and 300 laptops to Taraba State  University students, payment of exchange fees for students and WAEC  fees for 225 students, release of matching grants to SUBEB,and the fact that Taraba moved from 48 percent performance to 67 percent in WAEC.

He, however, listed the challenges faced by the Ministry to include, lack of facilities by Agencies and Parastatals which affects their activities.

Also speaking, Head of WAEC National Office, stated that the Taraba office would be the 21st office in the country. Represented by Head of Test Administration, Frances Iweha Onuoha, the Head, thanked the governor for donating a parcel of land for the organisation and asked for the fencing of the permanent site to prevent encroachment.

The highlight of the occasion was the cutting of tape of the new office and the utility van.

Taraba state, has for the 25 years of its creation, been without a functional WAEC office and had to depend on the Yola office for official transactions not until this administration came on board when a new office was provided.