Lagos Spends Over N1.5bn On WAEC Fees In 2024 – Commissioner

The Lagos State Government paid N1.577bn to cover the 2024 West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for 58,188 students across the state.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, during the 2025 ministerial press briefing held in Ikeja to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year in his second term.

To ensure transparency and accountability in the sponsorship process, the state conducted a biometric capture and image registration exercise for all Senior Secondary III students. As a result, 56,134 students were verified as eligible beneficiaries.

“In order to prevent wastage and ensure accountability in the sponsorship process, biometric capture and image registration exercise was conducted for all Senior Secondary III students to accurately determine the number of students eligible for sponsorship by the Lagos State Government for the year 2025 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun said.

“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona-fide beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government’s sponsorship for the Examination.

“Suffice to say that the sum of N1.577 billion only was paid by the State Government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE.”

The commissioner also highlighted several strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the quality of education in Lagos.

Among them is the Innovate Eko STEAM Programme, launched on November 8, 2024, to coincide with National STEAM Day. The programme promotes practical learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and is designed to equip students with skills to thrive in an innovation-driven economy.

In addition, Lagos launched the Eko Learners’ Support Programme on January 14. Tailored to assist students preparing for both WASSCE and NECO exams, the initiative is part of the state’s broader plan to foster academic excellence.

“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the Ministry’s commitment at advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State.The programme was an investment in the future of our children, our State, and our Nation.

“While we recognize education as the bedrock of development, it becomes our collective responsibility to provide our students with the necessary tools, resources and support to succeed. It is a supportive eco-system that fosters academic achievement, creativity, critical thinking and believes that every student deserves the opportunity to attain their full potential, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.

“The initiative is an additional support by the Ministry through our engagement with private sectors within the education ecosystem, to ensure that Lagos State candidates record impressive results in external examinations,” Alli-Balogun stated.

The programme includes the broadcast of 320 specially designed lessons across 10 core subjects—English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Government, History, Literature-in-English, and Yoruba—on Lagos Television and digital platforms.

Lagos Spends Over N1.5bn On WAEC Fees In 2024 – Commissioner is first published on The Whistler Newspaper