Cambridge: We can only release Buhari’s certificate if he requests for it

The University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, now
known as Cambridge Assessment, says it can only release the
certificate of President Muhammadu Buhari if the president requests
for it.

The exam body said this in response to inquiries by Nigerians
interested in authenticating Buhari’s certificate.

Cambridge, a United Kingdom-based examination body, oversaw the
conduct of final year secondary school examination in Nigeria and
placement into foreign universities in the 1960s.

In a statement on Monday, the examination body said for it to
release a candidate’s certificate, the student must request for
it.

It also confirmed that according to the regulations for 1961,
African language papers, including those for Hausa, were set for
the West African School Certificate.

It added that it was not compulsory to pass mathematics to get
the certificate.

“We can only confirm or verify results at the direct request of
or with the permission of a candidate,” the statement read.

“This is in accordance with the provisions of the General Data
Protection Regulations, Data Protection Act 2018 and section 40 of
the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

“Examination results were classed in grades by 1 to 9. 1,2,3,4,5
& 6 indicate a Pass with Credit; 7 & 8 indicate a Pass; 9 indicates
a Failure.

“To pass the School Certificate, candidates had to pass
examinations in a variety of groups. It was compulsory to pass
English Language, but not Maths, in order to gain the
Certificate.

“The number of candidates who sat for the WASC Hausa examination
in 1961 was 152.

“Our records show that Hausa was set in the Northern Region in
1961.”

Ahead of the 2019 elections, presentation of academic
certificates is one of the requirements for those seeking elective
positions.

The president had told the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) that his certificates were with the military
board.

This generated criticisms with opposition parties and some
Nigerians insisted that the president must produce his academic
certificates.

However, on Friday, the West African Examination council (WAEC)
presented an attestation of result to Buhari at the presidential
villa in Abuja.