The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially confirmed the appointment of 56-year-old Suleiman Kum as the new Head of the Nigeria National Office (HNO).

Kum succeeds Dr Amos Dangut, whose three-year tenure as Head of the Nigeria National Office ended on October 1, 2026. Dangut has since assumed office as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of WAEC.

The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by WAEC Nigeria’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, who described Kum as a seasoned test developer, administrator and executive.

Kum joined WAEC on July 17, 1998, as Assistant Registrar II and has risen through various positions to become Senior Deputy Registrar in charge of Test Administration.

Over the course of his career, he has played key roles in examination administration, test development, examination security and the management of WAEC’s branch and zonal offices.

He was credited with pioneering Variable Data Printing and enhanced code-security features in security printing, as well as replacing the Council’s attendance system with facial-recognition biometric devices.

Kum also led the successful deployment of Achievement Tests through the Computer-Based Examination mode and was instrumental in establishing the WAEC Gusau office as a Custodial Centre.

According to WAEC, his various assignments have included serving as Assistant Registrar II/Head, Exams Security, Awka; Assistant Registrar I/Head, Exams Security, Yola; Assistant Registrar I/Head, Exams Security, Makurdi; Senior Assistant Registrar I/Branch Controller, Gusau; and Principal Assistant Registrar/Branch Controller, Kano.

He subsequently served as Deputy Registrar/Head, Security Printing Department; Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt; Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Ikeja; Director of Administration; and Senior Deputy Registrar/Test Administration.

A native of Plateau State, Kum holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning at the institution.

WAEC said his career had been marked by integrity, diligence, innovation and a strong commitment to service, adding that his leadership across several portfolios had earned him numerous institutional commendations, accolades and awards.

With nearly three decades of experience within WAEC, Kum assumes leadership of the Nigeria National Office with extensive knowledge of the Council’s examination systems, security architecture, technology and administrative operations.