Bayelsa State has been honoured with an award of excellence by the National Examinations Council (NECO). The award was presented to Governor Douye Diri during the weekly state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday. The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, made the presentation and explained that NECO recognized Bayelsa among other states as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations.
Award on Merit
Dr. Emelah informed the council that the state received the award on merit for having the highest percentage of candidates with five credits and above in NECO examinations since the council's inception. He noted that by rewarding excellence at the state and institutional levels, NECO reinforces a culture of healthy competition, accountability, and continuous improvement in the education sector. He added that the award is not just a recognition of past performance but a call to action for other states and institutions to raise their standards to align with NECO’s broader mission of promoting quality education and ensuring that assessment outcomes translate into national progress.
Performance Breakdown
Giving a breakdown of the state’s students’ performance in the national examination, Dr. Emelah said Bayelsa came first in the country with the highest percentage of candidates who obtained five credits and above in NECO SSCE (Internal) since the body's inception. Ogun State secured second position, while Edo State came third.
Governor's Response
Responding, Governor Douye Diri expressed appreciation to NECO for the honour, stating that it is a call for more action in the education sector. He charged the Commissioner for Education to ensure the state maintains the standard, as a decline will be unacceptable. His words: “This is a wake-up call to receive this type of award, particularly when you are competing with states that had been there over the years and that are believed to be educationally ahead of you. It is a wake-up call for you (Education Commissioner) and the ministry that now that Bayelsa has come to the limelight educationally and competitively, we must wake up to the point of no return. I do not want to receive an award like this today and next year we go down. Let it be that we are improving on this.”
