NECO Celebrates 25 Years of Educational Assessment Innovation

The National Examinations Council (NECO) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the theme "Transforming Assessment Through Technology, Capacity Building." Established in 1999, NECO was created to conduct senior secondary examinations in Nigeria, reducing the pressure on a single examination body. Over the past 25 years, NECO has become one of Africa's largest assessment agencies, administering exams for approximately 1.5 million candidates annually.

The council has expanded its operations across Nigeria, establishing zonal and state offices and training over 20,000 examination supervisors. Under the leadership of Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, NECO has invested in technology, including the adoption of computer-based testing (CBT), which began piloting in 2017.

The council aims to fully implement CBT in future examinations, which is expected to reduce logistical strain and shorten result release times. NECO also focuses on inclusivity, providing special provisions for candidates with disabilities and expanding access to examinations for diaspora schools.