WAEC Introduces Digital Certificates

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) launched its Digital Certificate platform in Lagos state on Thursday .

The Head, National Office (HNO), Mr Patrick Areghan, in his welcome address at the unveiling of the platform, said that the development was to meet up with the constant demands of a changing world.

According to him, with the advent of technology, there is a need to integrate technology with students’ lifestyles.

The HNO said that the council’s new digital platform was developed in conjunction with one of the world‘s foremost security technology providers.

He said it was being implemented to streamline the issuance and verification of certificates from all over the world.

Areghan said that the platform involved mobile and web-based applications, designed specifically for candidates, individuals, institutions and organisations.

According to him, it holds powerful features that enable users to access, share, request and confirm certificates.

He said that it could also be used to recover candidates’ forgotten/lost examination numbers.

“The development of the new digital certificate platform is in line with WAEC’s continuous record of meeting global needs, by using cutting-edge technology to improve candidates’ experiences as they seek to continue their education.

“We are evolving to meet the demands of a changing world. We have migrated from physical registration of candidates to online registration; online verification of results and online result printouts and more.

“Their mobility is of utmost importance to the West African Examinations Council.

“Today, we live in a digital world, where instant satisfaction and accessibility are the ultimate. The process of receiving, retrieving, sharing, verifying or confirming academic certificates is rather cumbersome and moribund.

“The whole process is costly and could be frustrating, and the only answer can be found in Digital Certificates. Today, we are here to witness a revolution in the assessment and certification industry,” he said.

A digital certificate is the electronic version of an academic or physical paper certificate.

It is hosted on a dedicated credential page with options to share and embed.

It presents the same information as paper certificates, but has numerous advantages over paper certificates, with a special focus on the elimination of fraud and easy accessibility.