Sixteen-year old David Oluwasayo Babalola, on Thursday, emerged winner of the National Distinction Award of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria.
The awards which were presented at the opening ceremony of the 54th Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee of WAEC held in Lagos, was declared open by the Governor of Lagos, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by the Governor’s Adviser on Education, Mr Fela Bank-Olemoh.
Babalola who obtained the best national result, with A1 in nine subjects (including English and Mathematics) and a total T-Score of 673.7626 in May/June 2015 attended and sat for the examination at Oritamefa Baptist Model School, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The second prize was won by 16-year-old Philip Toluwase Alabi of Our Lady and St Francis College, Oshogbo, Osun State, with A1 in eight subjects including English Language and Mathematics, and a total T-Score of 667.1802.
16-year-old Lewechi Ugonma Nkata from Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, won the third prize with A1 in eight subjects (including English and Mathematics) and a total T-Score of 660.2430.
Speaking of the relevance of the awards, the Head of the National Office, Mr Olu Adenipekun, said the national awards were intended to motivate students to work hard.
“One of the major objectives of the WAEC Endowment Fund is to support awards for outstanding performances by candidates in the various member countries.”
Also honoured at the occasion were Oritamefa Baptist Model School, Ibadan, “for producing the best male candidate (Babalola) in May/June 2015 WASSCE”, and Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, “for producing the best female candidate (Nkata)”. Additionally, Loyola Jesuit College received the Augustine Bandele Oyediran Trophy “for producing the best overall results” in the same examination.
Meanwhile, nine senior members of WAEC staff, all employed in 1996, each received the Long Service Award during the ceremony.
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