The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to reforms aimed at making national examinations moFG re affordable, transparent and globally competitive, as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education system and human capital development.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made the pledge in Abuja during the 25th anniversary celebration of the National Examinations Council, NECO, stressing the importance of credible assessment systems in shaping the future of Nigerian youths.
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Compliance, Bashir Maidugu, Shettima said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained determined to create an enabling environment for educational institutions to thrive while improving the quality and integrity of public examinations.
He said accessible and credible examinations were essential to expanding opportunities for students and equipping Nigerian youths to compete effectively on the global stage.
Shettima also urged NECO to sustain the affordability of its services so that children from low-income households would not be denied access to education and certification opportunities.
“A nation that invests in credible assessment systems invests directly in the quality of its human capital and the future of its society.
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“As a government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment for educational institutions to thrive.
“We also remain committed to ensuring Nigerian students compete confidently on the global stage.
“Let us, therefore, continue to inspire our young people to dream boldly, study diligently, embrace integrity, and contribute meaningfully to national development”, he said.
The Vice President recalled that NECO was established 25 years ago to provide a standardised, nationally owned examination framework capable of assessing students with fairness, integrity and international relevance.
Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, commended NECO for its contributions to strengthening educational assessment and promoting credibility within Nigeria’s education system.
Represented by former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Abdulsalami said NECO had gone beyond conducting examinations to influencing educational policy and planning through credible data generation.
According to him, the council’s data-driven approach has supported informed policy decisions, resource allocation and broader educational reforms across the country.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, described NECO’s 25-year journey as pivotal to Nigeria’s educational development, noting that the body had strengthened accountability, widened access to examinations and restored public confidence in national certification.
Alausa announced that the Federal Government would fully migrate national examinations to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), describing the move as a major milestone in modernising Nigeria’s assessment system and aligning it with global best practices.
He said the deployment of digital technology and CBT had significantly reduced examination malpractice and would further enhance transparency through real-time monitoring and improved candidate tracking.
“We must explore innovative assessment approaches that reflect 21st-century competencies, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy, while maintaining rigorous standards,” he said.
“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading — and that is the Computer-Based Examination, which is to commence this year.
“This will go a long way in curbing the menace of examination malpractice due to its ability to track and detect suspicious activity and also provide real-time monitoring of candidates.”
NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, said the council’s examinations were now being conducted in eight countries, reflecting growing international acceptance of its certificates.
He recalled that NECO was established to harmonise national examinations and provide credible, reliable and accessible certification for Nigerian learners.
Wushishi said the council overcame early challenges, including low public confidence, infrastructure deficits and concerns over examination credibility, through transparent processes, strict standards and timely release of results.
He noted that innovations such as online registration and internet-based result release had transformed examination administration by improving efficiency, accessibility and public trust.
“NECO began as a bold initiative to harmonise and enhance the administration of national examinations.
“In the earliest days, we faced daunting hurdles, which included limited public trust, infrastructure gaps and questions about the validity and reliability of our assessments.
“Yet, through steadfast leadership, transparent processes and a steadfast commitment to the national interest, we gradually earned the trust of students, parents, schools and stakeholders both nationally and internationally”, he said.
Highlighting recent achievements, the registrar said NECO had expanded its infrastructure, with new offices under construction in 10 states, while also introducing digital platforms such as the NECO e-Verify system and data analytics facilities to modernise examination services.
He added that additional zonal directorates and departments had been created to improve staff development, mobility and nationwide service delivery.
Looking ahead, Wushishi said the council would intensify anti-malpractice measures, expand digital certificates and electronic services, strengthen international partnerships and widen access to examinations for learners in underserved communities.
He reaffirmed NECO’s commitment to integrity, fairness and accessibility in examination administration, and called on stakeholders to sustain reforms that promote excellence in Nigeria’s education sector.
Educationist and Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Education, University of Ibadan, Prof. Pai Obanya, drew attention to the growing challenges facing educational assessment in a rapidly changing world.
Obanya called for stronger collaboration among examination bodies to encourage knowledge-sharing and improve assessment systems, stressing the need for approaches that give equal importance to both cognitive and non-cognitive skills.
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