NECO Celebrates 25 Years of Impact in Nigeria's Education

The National Examinations Council (NECO) recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, highlighting its impactful journey in Nigeria's education sector since its establishment in April 1999. NECO was created to address the limitations of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and to cater to Nigeria's large student population and distinct curriculum needs.

Initially, NECO assessed fewer than 900,000 candidates during its first Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) in 2000, but this number has grown to over 1.2 million annually, with cumulative participation exceeding 24 million students across Nigeria's 36 states and nine foreign countries, including the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, NECO's Registrar and Chief Executive, disclosed that the council has assessed approximately 35 million candidates in the last 25 years.

Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, praised NECO's commitment to credible examination administration and its role in providing a competitive landscape against WAEC. NECO is set to implement computer-based testing by 2027, alongside WAEC, to enhance examination efficiency and integrity.