The NECO Accreditation Team conducted comprehensive inspections of the schools in Niger Republic and Equatorial Guinea to evaluate their preparedness for administering the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). These inspections covered critical facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, and sports facilities. Upon completing the rigorous assessment, the schools were granted full accreditation for both SSCE and BECE, according to Mr. Azeez Sani, NECO's Acting Director of Information and Public Relations.
NECO's Global Expansion
This accreditation is part of NECO's broader strategy to extend its services beyond Nigeria's borders, aligning with its goal to become a leading examination body in Africa. Sani emphasized that this development reflects NECO's commitment to delivering quality education and assessments on a global scale.
"NECO’s expansion underscores its dedication to providing internationally recognized certifications for students across Africa," Sani remarked.
In addition to the recent accreditations, NECO announced the establishment of its first external SSCE center outside Nigeria, located at the UNHCR School in Diffa, Niger Republic.
About NECO
The National Examinations Council (NECO) is a prominent Nigerian examination body established in 1999 to conduct secondary school-level assessments. It is best known for administering the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for both internal and external candidates and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
NECO’s primary role is to evaluate students' academic performance and certify their readiness for higher education or professional pursuits. Its certificates are widely recognized for university admissions in Nigeria.
For the 2024 SSCE, 1,376,423 candidates registered, with 1,367,736 sitting for the exams. Among those, 60.55% (828,284 candidates) achieved the minimum requirement of five credits, including English Language and Mathematics—essential for university admission. This success rate aligns closely with previous years: 61.60% in 2023 and 60% in 2022. Additionally, 83.90% of candidates (1,147,597) earned credits in at least five subjects, slightly lower than the 84.68% recorded in 2023.
