Dangut, a Nigerian education and assessment specialist, officially began his five-year tenure on October 1, 2026, and will remain in office until September 2031.
He succeeds Alhaji Pateh Bah of The Gambia, following the ratification of his appointment by the Council, WAEC’s international governing board, at its 74th Annual Meeting held in Accra, Ghana, in March 2026.
His appointment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Head of Public Affairs, WAEC Headquarters, Accra, Demianus G. Ojijeogu.
Before his elevation to the top position, Dangut served as Head of the Nigeria National Office from October 2023 to September 2026, where he was involved in the administration and implementation of several technology-based reforms in examination management.
Born on October 2, 1967, Dangut has built a career spanning more than three decades in education, examination administration, test development and educational assessment.
He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production, obtained in 1991; a Master of Science in Animal Science, 1994; a Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science, 2017; and a Master of Education in Administration and Planning, obtained in 2020.
His career in education began in 1994 at St. Louis College, Jos, where he worked as a teacher and served as a WAEC examiner. Four years later, in 1998, he joined WAEC, beginning a long career within the Council that saw him occupy a succession of administrative and technical positions.
Among the positions he has held are Assistant Registrar, Test Development Division, Ogba, Lagos; Head of Examinations Security and Deputy Branch Controller in Uyo and Bauchi; Branch Controller, Yola; Controller, Post-Examinations Department; Zonal Coordinator, Ikeja; and Deputy Registrar and Head of the National Office.
Dangut has particularly been associated with the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in examination administration. Over the course of his career, he has worked on systems aimed at strengthening test development, examination delivery, post-examination processes, records management and examination monitoring.
As Head of the Nigeria National Office, he championed several initiatives, including the rollout of Computer-Based WASSCE, the serialization of question papers and the introduction of a Digital Electronic Marking System.
He also oversaw the Digital Certificate Portal, WAEC E-Study Platform and Digital Records Archive, as well as systems designed to improve examination logistics and the monitoring of examiners.
The developments formed part of broader efforts to modernise examination processes and reduce reliance on traditional, paper-based systems.
Dangut's work at WAEC has also attracted professional recognition. He received a commendation from the Nigeria Examinations Committee for his handling of examination matters between 2000 and 2006. He also received an Award for Meritorious Service from the Ondo State Government during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year.
Beyond WAEC, he has participated in the governance and administration of Nigeria's education sector through service on the boards of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Grange Educational Foundation.
He has also represented WAEC at the Joint Consultative Committee on Education and the National Council on Education, giving him exposure to policy discussions involving examination administration and the wider education system.
An academic and education assessment practitioner, Dangut has published in national and international journals and presented papers at several conferences.
He currently serves as the Regional Representative of the West African Sub-region on the Executive Board of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA).
He is a Fellow of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) and a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM).
His assumption of office marks the beginning of a five-year leadership period at WAEC, during which his experience in test development, examination administration and digital transformation will form part of his professional background as he leads the Council's work across its member countries.