Kano Tops 2026 NECO Results for Second Straight Year

Kano State has secured the top position in the 2026 National Examinations Council results, with 74,413 students achieving a minimum of five credit passes including English Language and Mathematics. This accomplishment places Kano ahead of Lagos State, which recorded 72,496 qualifying candidates, and Oyo State, which had 55,543.

The performance represents Kano's second consecutive year leading the national rankings by this measure. Governor Abba Yusuf responded to the announcement through a statement released by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, commending students, educators, parents, and other education stakeholders for their contributions to the result.

The governor linked the consecutive top-ranking performance to the state government's ongoing commitment to funding educational programmes and infrastructure development across Kano. In demonstrating this financial commitment, the Kano State government revealed it has allocated over 4.4 billion naira to support disadvantaged students, a figure the governor cited as evidence of prioritising educational access and quality.

The funding appears directed at removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent qualified candidates from sitting for the examination. The 2026 results underscore performance variations across Nigeria's 36 states in secondary education outcomes.

With Kano maintaining its lead for a second year, the state's educational policies and resource allocation have produced measurable outcomes in this national assessment. The margin between first-place Kano and second-place Lagos stands at approximately 1,917 candidates meeting the benchmark criteria.