Kogi State’s push to restore discipline and public trust in its education system is drawing renewed attention after claims that no government-owned secondary school in the state appeared among institutions sanctioned for examination malpractice in the latest West African Examinations Council (WAEC) report.
Supporters of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration have described the development as a clear sign that the state’s tightened supervision and accountability measures in examinations are beginning to pay off.
Education has remained a central pillar of the Ododo administration’s development agenda. In May 2026, the state government announced it was reinforcing measures to guarantee malpractice-free examinations. Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, urged principals, administrators and supervisors to strictly comply with WAEC guidelines, warning that negligence, collusion or compromise would attract sanctions under the Kogi State Education Law.
The government has also pointed to related efforts to improve examination preparedness and educational planning, including training programmes to prepare students for the transition to computer-based examinations, as well as the rollout of a comprehensive 2026 school census.
At the centre of the state’s examination integrity campaign is Commissioner Jones, whose approach has emphasised closer monitoring of schools and firmer adherence to examination regulations.
In a statement, APC stalwart Hon. Oniwaye Olusegun John described the reported clean record as a break from an era when allegations of malpractice cast a shadow over some public examination centres in the state.
He argued 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, calling the achievement evidence of a growing culture of accountability within the state’s education system.
Kogi’s renewed emphasis on examination discipline comes as examination bodies nationwide continue efforts to curb malpractice. WAEC has repeatedly warned schools, supervisors and invigilators against practices that could undermine the credibility of public examinations.
Education stakeholders caution that sustaining the momentum will be the real test. Beyond a clean examination record, they say the reforms must ultimately 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 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 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.
