Kano State has recorded the highest number of candidates who obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO). The state recorded 74,413 candidates who met the benchmark, placing it ahead of Lagos State, which came second with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo State ranked third with 55,543 candidates. This marks the second consecutive year Kano has topped the NECO performance chart, following a similar achievement in the 2025 examination.
Kano’s Education Investment Pays Off
Reacting to the achievement, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf congratulated students, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders, attributing the performance to the state’s investment in education. The governor said the state’s continued focus on funding, improving learning facilities, recruiting and training teachers, providing scholarships, and supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds had contributed to the improvement recorded in the education sector.
According to the Kano State Government, more than ₦4.4 billion was spent in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, particularly students who may have struggled to afford examination fees. This financial support is seen as a key factor in enabling more students to sit for the exam and achieve the required credits.
Lagos and Oyo Follow in Ranking
Lagos State, despite having the second-highest number of candidates meeting the benchmark, followed Kano with 72,496 candidates, while Oyo completed the top three ranking with 55,543 candidates. The ranking is based on the number of candidates who obtained five credits including English Language and Mathematics, rather than the percentage pass rate or average performance of students in each state. This distinction is important because it highlights the absolute number of students achieving the benchmark, which can be influenced by the size of the candidate population in each state.
The NECO SSCE is one of Nigeria’s major secondary school examinations, assessing students at the end of their senior secondary education and serving as one of the qualifications used for further academic pursuits. The results are closely watched by educators, policymakers, and parents as an indicator of educational performance across the country.
Implications for Education Policy
The consistent performance of Kano State in the NECO ranking underscores the potential impact of targeted education investments. The state’s focus on funding, infrastructure, teacher training, and scholarships appears to be yielding tangible results, as evidenced by the high number of students meeting the five-credit benchmark. For Lagos and Oyo, the rankings reflect their large candidate populations and the ongoing efforts to maintain high educational standards.
As NECO continues to release results, the performance of states like Kano provides a model for other regions aiming to improve educational outcomes. The emphasis on supporting disadvantaged students and ensuring access to examinations is likely to remain a key strategy for boosting performance in future NECO SSCE cycles.
