The National Examinations Council, National Examinations Council, has revealed that more than 35 million candidates have taken part in its examinations within the last 25 years.
The announcement was made by the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, during the council’s 25th anniversary gala and award ceremony held in Minna.
According to Wushishi, NECO was officially established on July 10, 1999, after years of calls for a reliable Nigerian examination body that would better serve local educational needs.
He explained that the over 35 million figure represents the total number of students who have participated in different NECO examinations over the years. These include the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and several other tests organised by the council.
The NECO boss also spoke about the history behind the creation of the examination body. He said several government committees between 1977 and 1997 recommended the establishment of a national examination council to improve assessment standards in the country.
During the anniversary event, NECO honoured former Registrar and ex-JAMB boss, Dibu Ojerinde, with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the growth and early development of the council. Ojerinde served as NECO Registrar from 1999 to 2007.
The council also celebrated schools and states that have performed well in its SSCE Internal examinations since NECO began operations.
Dority International Early Learning School emerged as the best-performing secondary school overall. Federal Government Academy came second, while Air Force Comprehensive School secured the third position.
In the state performance category, Bayelsa State was recognised for having the highest percentage of candidates who earned at least five credits in their examinations. Lagos State was also honoured for producing the highest number of NECO candidates.
Other states recognised for strong performance in the SSCE Internal examinations include Ogun State, Edo State, Kaduna State, and Oyo State.
Wushishi added that NECO plans to continue improving its examination process by introducing more technology-driven systems and maintaining high standards in the conduct of examinations across the country.