Examination body announces major gender shift in national enrolment figures
The West African Examinations Council has announced a major shift in Nigeria’s education landscape after revealing that female candidates registered for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination outnumbered male candidates.
According to WAEC, a total of 1,959,636 candidates registered for the ongoing Computer-Based WASSCE across 24,207 schools nationwide. Out of the figure, 1,001,072 were female candidates, while 958,564 were male candidates.
WAEC officials described the development as a significant sign of increasing access to education for girls across Nigeria. The examination body also noted that the transition toward computer-based examinations is gaining momentum following previous pilot successes.
The 2026 examination, which began in April, is expected to continue until June, with thousands of supervisors deployed nationwide to monitor the process. Education experts say the gender shift could influence future admission patterns in tertiary institutions if the trend continues.
The announcement has triggered mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians applauding the rising participation of girls in secondary education, while others called for improved support systems to ensure both genders receive equal opportunities and quality learning conditions.