A total of 1.9 million candidates are currently sitting for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) across Nigeria. In a notable development, female candidates have taken the lead in numbers this year.

This marks a positive trend in girls’ participation in secondary school education.

The increased number of female candidates shows growing encouragement for girls to complete their secondary education. Many stakeholders have welcomed this development, describing it as a step forward for gender equality in education. Parents, teachers, and school administrators are being commended for supporting the girls.

Education officials have expressed hope that the high turnout will lead to better overall performance. They urged all candidates, both male and female, to remain focused and avoid any form of examination malpractice. Proper preparation and seriousness during the examination period remain key to good results.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been working to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination. Adequate arrangements have been made at various centres to provide a conducive environment for the candidates.

This year’s large number of participants reflects the growing importance Nigerians place on education.

As the examination continues, many parents and guardians are praying for success for their children. The strong participation of young women this year is seen as an inspiring sign for the future of girl-child education in Nigeria. The final results are expected to be released in due course.