How to Correct Name and Date of Birth on WAEC 2024

So, you made a mistake during your WAEC registration.  Perhaps, you misspelled a name or inputted the wrong date of birth. No worries, in this article, we will take you through a step-by-step approach to how to make the necessary corrections.

Being human, it is natural to make mistakes. Many times, the details of students are computed on the WAEC portal by just one teacher, a café guy, or a distracted student and an error is inevitable.

Hence, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has made provision for students to correct name errors and date of birth (DOB) errors, among others. Here is how you can go about that correction:

Requirements for Correction of Name and Date of Birth on WAEC

To make the necessary changes to your WAEC certificate, there are certain important materials you have to have handy. These materials will aid in the smooth processing of your request and they are:

1. The original WAEC certificate with the error: when you get a certificate and you notice an error, keep the certificate very well. You will present the error document as evidence.
2. Passport photographs: these are for documentation purposes as well because a complaint file will be opened for you.
3. A letter of Attestation: you can get this from your school simply to show you were a student there.
4. An original Birth Certificate or Age Declaration: since you are trying to correct your date of birth and name, it is only right to present evidence that shows the correct details.
5. A letter of Application: address this letter to WAEC, and tell them about the error and the correction you want.
6. Original WAEC Registration form (photocopies): you will provide evidence of your WAEC registration as proof that you indeed took the exam and are not just laying claims.
7. An Affidavit for the correction of the date of birth: you will take an oath in court to prove that the date of birth you are presenting is the correct one.
8. The sum of ₦10,000: this is money that will be paid at the WAEC office for processing your data.

Steps on How to Correct Your Name and Date of Birth on WAEC

The following are general steps to follow to get the errors corrected without the help of your school:

1. Write an application letter addressed to WAEC stating your reason for contacting them.
2. Visit any state or zonal WAEC office close to you.
3. State your reason for being there.
4. Present your letter of application as required.
5. You may or may not require an attestation letter, but either way, present it.
6. Provide the original WAEC certificate with the error.
7. Present photocopies of your original WAEC form and other documents listed above.
8. Present at least 6 passport photographs.
9. Graduates may be asked to present evidence such as a school register showing they attended the institution.
10. You will have to pay the sum of ₦10,000.
11. After making payment, be sure to find out when next you should visit the office for your corrected certificate.

Correction for School Candidates

The following steps are for students who want to pass through the school where they wrote their WAEC exams. There may be slight differences, but this method may be easier for some people. The steps include:

1. Locate the school where you wrote your exam.
2. Report the error you observed to your school’s principal.
3. Write and present an application letter to your principal, addressed to WAEC.
4. Present the original WAEC certificate showing the error to the principal.
5. Present your passport photographs to the principal.
6. Provide all the documents required.
7. You may be asked to provide a certain amount of money for your request to be processed.
8. Pay the required amount (it may be above ₦10,000).
9. Keep in touch with the principal for information on the arrival of the corrected certificate.

NOTE: Your school’s principal is the one to make contact with WAEC on your behalf. This means he may also have the corrected certificate when it is ready.

Why correct your name and date of birth?

You may be wondering why you need to correct the errors on your certificate. Some people may even say it is just an error on paper. But what is important to note is that whatever reflects on your certificate is the same on the database.

Therefore, your certificate simply reflects the error inputted in the database. Without your correct details reflected on your certificate, it may be difficult to use the certificate in the future.

The whole point of going to school is to be able to use your certificates to show completion. So, if you have errors, you should have them corrected as soon as possible.

However, if you decide to wait longer, you may have to pay higher charges to get the corrections done.

How long does it take to correct a name and date of birth on WAEC?

Depending on what the problem is or what you complained about, it may take as long as 6 months to be issued a new and corrected certificate. But this is not a fixed duration, it may vary.

Conclusion

In brief, it is possible to make corrections to your name and date of birth on your WAEC certificate, and hopefully, the easy steps we have provided will make your quest a lot easier.

Furthermore, if you need more information, visit https://www.waecnigeria.org/