The Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council, Dantani Wushishi, has been elected Vice-President of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa.
His election was approved by the AEAA General Assembly during the association’s 42nd conference held in Arusha, Tanzania. Nigeria also secured the opportunity to host the association’s 2027 conference in Abuja from August 16 to 20.
Wushishi’s new position follows his previous role on the AEAA Executive Council, where he represented the West African sub-region. His appointment places a Nigerian education official in a key position within the continental body responsible for advancing educational assessment practices in Africa.
The development also comes as the education sector faces growing demands for digital examination systems and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in testing and certification.
Since taking charge of NECO in 2021, Wushishi has overseen efforts to modernise the council’s examination processes and expand its technological capacity. Under his leadership, NECO has also extended its examinations to eight countries outside Nigeria.
The 2027 AEAA conference in Abuja is expected to bring together education policymakers, assessment specialists, researchers and examination administrators from across Africa. The event will also give Nigeria an opportunity to highlight developments in its examination and assessment systems.
Wushishi, who was born in Wushishi, Niger State, on April 5, 1965, is a specialist in Science Education, with a focus on Chemistry Education. Before joining NECO, he held several academic and administrative positions at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
His previous responsibilities included serving as a head of department, postgraduate coordinator and sub-dean in various academic institutions.
President Bola Tinubu reappointed Wushishi as NECO Registrar earlier in 2026, following his initial appointment to the position in 2021.
The latest recognition is expected to further strengthen Nigeria’s participation in continental discussions on examination administration, particularly as educational assessment increasingly adopts digital tools and emerging technologies.
