The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Mr Suleiman Danlami Kum as the new Head of the Nigeria National Office (HNO).
Kum takes over from Dr Amos Josiah Dangut, who previously occupied the position.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Sunday by WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola F. Adesina.
Kum joined WAEC in 1998 and has extensive experience as a test developer, administrator and executive, with expertise in examination security, test administration, as well as the management of the council’s branch and zonal offices.
Born on October 16, 1970, in Minna, Niger State, Kum is a native of 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 obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) 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 (NYSC) programme at the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he served as Head of the Animal Production Unit.
He later taught at his alma mater, Baptist High School, Jos, between 1995 and 1998, serving in various capacities, including Form Master, Labour Master, classroom teacher and Health Master.
He joined WAEC on July 17, 1998, as Assistant Registrar II and rose through the ranks to become Senior Deputy Registrar in 2024.
His assignments within the Council included Head of Examinations Security in Awka, Yola and Makurdi; Branch Controller in Gusau and Kano; Head of the Security Printing Department; Zonal Coordinator in Port Harcourt and Ikeja; Director of Administration; and Senior Deputy Registrar, Test Administration.
Before his appointment as HNO, Kum served as Deputy Registrar in the Office of the Head of the National Office.
WAEC said Kum had contributed to several administrative and technological innovations during his career, including the establishment of the Gusau office as a custodial centre, the introduction of Variable Data Printing and enhanced code security features in security printing.
He also led the replacement of the Council-wide attendance system with facial-recognition biometric devices and played a key role in the delivery of Achievement Tests through the Computer-Based Examination mode.
The Council described him as a professional who had demonstrated integrity, diligence, innovation and commitment to service throughout his career.
Kum has attended national and international training programmes, symposia and conferences, including programmes in the United Kingdom. He has also published works in national and international volumes and presented academic and professional papers.
He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).
