The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Mr. Suleiman Danlami Kum as the new Head of the Nigeria National Office, succeeding Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut.
Kum, a seasoned test developer, administrator and executive, assumed the position after a career spanning 28 years with the council, where he rose from Assistant Registrar II to Senior Deputy Registrar.
Before his appointment, he served as Deputy Registrar in the Head of National Office’s Office.
He also previously served as Senior Deputy Registrar/Test Administration from September 2025 to August 2026 and Director of Administration from January 2024 to August 2025.
The Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, in a statement, said Kum joined the council on July 17, 1998, and had held several strategic positions across its offices and departments.
His career at WAEC has 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; Principal Assistant Registrar/Branch Controller, Kano; Deputy Registrar/Head, Security Printing Department; Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt; and Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Ikeja.
She said Kum had extensive experience in test development, test administration, examination security as well as branch and zonal office management.
“Kum had driven several administrative and technological innovations during his career, including the establishment of the Gusau office as a custodial centre, pioneering variable data prints and enhanced code security features in security printing, and replacing the council-wide attendance system with facial-recognition biometric devices.”
He also led the seamless delivery of achievement tests using the computer-based examination mode.
According to Adesina, Kum’s leadership across various portfolios had earned him institutional commendations, accolades and awards within and outside the council, while his career had been marked by integrity, diligence, innovation and commitment to service.
Born on October 16, 1970, in Minna, Niger State, Kum hails from Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
He attended Baptist High School, Jos, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education in 1986/1987, before proceeding to the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, where he earned a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production with Second Class Honours (Upper Division) in 1992.
He later obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria in 2025 and is currently completing a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Planning at the institution.
Kum began his professional career in 1993 during his National Youth Service Corps deployment at the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he served as Head of the Animal Production Unit.
He subsequently returned to Baptist High School, Jos, where he worked between 1995 and 1998 as form master, labour master, classroom teacher and health master. His service at the school earned him the light and life staff merit award in 1998.
Kum has also attended national and international trainings, symposia and conferences, including programmes in the United Kingdom. He has published works in national and international volumes and presented academic and professional papers.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and is married with children.