PATRICK AREGHAN BOWS OUT OF SERVICE AS WAEC NATIONAL HEAD; REELS OUT MILESTONES • Bags NAOSNP Award
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Immediate Past Head, National Office, WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Patrick E. Areghan, FCGP
The Head of West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria National Office, Dr. Patrick Areghan round up his tenure as the head of the examinations body in Nigeria yesterday 1st of October 2023, Trek Africa Newspaper.
The man who took the reins in 6th March 2020 was able to navigate the flagship organization through many challenges including insecurity in some parts of the country, high inflation rate in the country, rogue website operators and shameless connivance of some supervisors and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid-19 pandemic, in particular, forced the examination body to stagger the schedule of WASSCE for school candidates in year 2020 from the start date of 6th April to a new timeline of 17th August – 12th September 2020.
Despite the challenges, Trek Africa Newspaper can confirm that the excellent administrator, Areghan has been able to revert the WASSCE for school candidates to its standard May/June period. This is a remarkable and significant feat.
L-R: President, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP, Oki Samson; Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, SFU Lagos, CP Margaret Ochalla; Representative of the Immediate Past Head, National Office, WAEC Nigeria/Head of Public Affairs, WAEC, Moyosola Adeshina and Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan during the presentation of NAOSNP Man of the year-Education to Dr. Patrick Areghan at the NAOSNP National Security Conference and Awards 2023 held at the Civic center, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Other milestones recorded during Patrick Areghan’s include: ‘establishment of a functional WAEC Nigeria Digital Printing Press (WNDPP) after 71 years of existence; launch of Digital Certificate (DigiCert) platform; launch of Educational Statistics (EDUSTAT) platform that enables stakeholders to access statistics online; WAEC ChatBot that enables stakeholders to access all WAEC services online, real-time even in the comfort of your home.’
Others are: ‘WAEC Verify – that enables institutions to access candidates’ results through direct link to WAEC database; WAEC e-Study Library which exposes students to learning materials – past question papers, answers and marking scheme (To be launched soon); Robust computer based test services at our state-of-the-art WAEC Testing and Training Centre (WTTC), Ogba, Lagos; Centre Locator, that enables the supervisor or inspector to locate any school-centre during the conduct of the examinations without missing their way; Promotion of staff welfare; Conduct of all examinations since 2020, release of results, printing and issue of certificates to deserving candidates’, Trek Africa Newspaper can report.
L-R: Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, SFU Lagos, CP Margaret Ochalla; Representative of the Immediate Past Head, National Office, WAEC Nigeria/Head of Public Affairs, WAEC, Moyosola Adeshina and Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan during the presentation of NAOSNP Man of the year-Education to Dr. Patrick Areghan at the NAOSNP National Security Conference and Awards 2023 held at the Civic center, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Speaking on his achievements, Dr. Areghan noted: ‘Looking back on my time as the Head of the Nigeria National Office, I can say we have confronted seemingly insurmountable organisational challenges and many booby straps. I have seen our team navigate these hurdles and mountains in ways that have not only made WAEC Nigeria a better organization but also made all of us far stronger. During these years, we have built products that delight our stakeholders, focused on our customer relations, driven substantial values for all our partners, and have made the Council the obvious best place to work. We have enhanced our products and services to be far more modern and engaging. Our customer relations is now topnotch: instant response to social media messages and emails, solving challenges by putting them first.’
‘Staff welfare has been the bedrock of our team; we have encouraged the proper placement of staff with qualifications and ensured staff comfort by providing a good transportation system and good health care. I have taken time to dwell on some of my achievements because they are remarkable. As I look back on these achievements, I want to sincerely thank every single employee of the Council, past and present, for their invaluable contributions. I am immensely grateful for all your hard work and the many sacrifices you have made.’
‘Our quest to serve the Nigerian Child better has required of us the most impressive display of teamwork, innovation and resilience I have ever seen. Working with you has made my time as the Head of the Nigeria National Office nothing short of a privilege. I was just Primus Inter Pares. You have written my name on the sands of time, you are the authors of my history’, Areghan said.
Meanwhile, for his exemplary stewardship as the head of the WAEC national office and demonstration of excellence in the educational sector, Dr. Areghan alongside other patriotic Nigerians including the Inspector general of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun; Chairman, Police Service commission, Dr. Solomon Arase; Board member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan; Coordinator of NYSC Lagos State, Mrs. Yetunde Abimbola Baderinwa among others were honoured by the frontline media association, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP.
The immediate past Head of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Areghan was honored as NAOSNP Man of the year in the education category at the high profiled national security conference and awards held at the Civic center, Victoria island, Lagos.
