News Investigators/ Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to maintaining affordable national examinations while strengthening integrity, innovation and global competitiveness in Nigeria’s assessment system.
Shettima said this on Thursday in Abuja at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Compliance, Bashir Maidugu, the Vice-President stressed that credible examination systems were critical to building quality human capital and expanding opportunities for Nigerian youths.
According to him, the examination body should continue to be affordable to the ordinary child. Education remains the bedrock of national development.
“A nation that invests in credible assessment systems, invests directly in the quality of its human capital and the future of its society.
“As a government under the leadership of President Bola Tunubu, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment for educational institutions to thrive.
“We also remain commitment for Nigerian students to 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.
Shettima said NECO was established 25 years ago with a patriotic mandate to provide a standardised, credible and nationally owned examination framework capable of assessing students with fairness, integrity and global relevance.
He said the creation of the council strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s education system by ensuring that students’ academic achievements were matched with credible opportunities for advancement.
Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, commended NECO for its contributions to strengthening educational assessment and promoting credibility in Nigeria’s education system over the past 25 years.
Abubakar, represented by the former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada, said that beyond examination administration, NECO had influenced education policy and pedagogy through credible data generation.
This, he said, had supported policy decisions, resource allocation and educational planning.
On his part, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described NECO’s journey over the past 25 years as pivotal to Nigeria’s education development.
Alausa noted that the council had strengthened accountability, expanded access to examinations and restored public confidence in national certification.
He said the federal government planned migration of its examinations to computer-based testing would enhance transparency through real-time monitoring and improved tracking of candidates’ activities.
He said the introduction of digital technology had reduced examination fraud to 90 per cent in 2026, expressing hope that by 2027, examination fraud would be reduced to 100 per cent.
According to him, the reform represents a critical milestone in modernising Nigeria’s assessment system and aligning examinations with global best practices.
“We must explore innovative assessment approaches that reflect 21st-century competencies, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy, while maintaining rigorous standards.
“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,” he said.
The Registrar/Chief Executive, NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, said that its examinations were now conducted in eight countries, noting 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 such as limited public trust, infrastructure deficits and concerns about examination reliability through transparent procedures, strict standards and timely release of results.
The registrar said the introduction of online registration and internet-based result release revolutionised examination administration, improving efficiency, accessibility and public confidence in the system.
He added that NECO’s adherence to global best practices in assessment design, examination security and data management had earned the council international recognition and acceptance of its certificates.
“NECO began as a bold initiative to harmonise and enhance the administration of national examinations.
“In the earliest days, we faced daunting hurdles, which include 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.
“The Council laid down the foundations of credibility through sheer procedures, timely release of results, and consistent standards,” he said.
Highlighting its recent achievements, Wushishi said the council had expanded infrastructure with new offices under construction in 10 states, established digital platforms including the NECO e-Verify system, and developed data analytics facilities to modernise examination services.
He disclosed that additional zonal directorates and departments had been created to improve staff development, mobility and service delivery nationwide.
Looking ahead, Wushishi said NECO would intensify anti-malpractice measures, expand digital certificates and e-services, strengthen international partnerships and widen access to examinations for learners in underserved communities.
He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to integrity, fairness and accessibility in examination administration, urging staff and stakeholders to sustain reforms that promote excellence in Nigeria’s education system.
A renowed educationist, Emeritus Prof. Pai Obanya, from the Institute of Education, University of Ibadan, highlighted the challenges faced by education assessment in a changing world.
Obanya called for synergetic relationships among all examination bodies to learn from each other on examination assessments.
He stressed the need for assessment methods that accord equal importance to cognitive and non-cognitive skills.
NAN
