The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that more than 35 million candidates have taken part in its various examinations over the past 25 years. Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, made this known during the Gala and Awards Night held as part of the Council’s 25th anniversary celebration in Minna.
Silver Jubilee Celebration
Speaking on the theme, “Celebrating 25 Years of NECO’s Excellence in Educational Assessment,” Professor Wushishi noted that NECO was established on July 10, 1999, following years of public demand for a credible, efficient, and nationally responsive examination body. He explained that the creation of the examination body resulted from recommendations made by several government panels and committees between 1977 and 1997, all of which emphasized the need for a national examination institution capable of meeting the growing educational needs of Nigerians.
“Over the last 25 years, our work has touched the lives of almost 35 million Nigerians through various examinations. This reflects the trust reposed in NECO and our unwavering commitment to fairness, credibility, and integrity in examination administration,” he said.
Reflection and Renewed Commitment
The Registrar noted that the silver jubilee celebration was not only an opportunity to celebrate institutional milestones, but also a moment for reflection, recognition, and renewed commitment to innovation and continuous improvement in educational assessment. He reaffirmed NECO’s resolve to sustain high standards in examination administration through the adoption of modern technology, stronger stakeholder collaboration, and investments in human capital and institutional processes.
Lifetime Achievement Award
As part of the anniversary celebration, NECO conferred its highest honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award, on Emeritus Professor Dibu Ojerinde, former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and pioneer Registrar of NECO between 1999 and 2007.
