The Federal Government officially released the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) results on Thursday in Abuja, revealing that ten candidates jointly emerged as the highest scorers with 202 marks each out of a maximum of 210. A total of 66,950 candidates sat the examination, while 82 candidates recorded the lowest score of one mark.
Minister Announces Results in Abuja
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, made the results public shortly after the National Examinations Council (NECO) Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, formally presented the 2026 NCEE and National Gifted Examination results to her for release. According to the Tribune, 70,357 candidates registered for the examination into Nigeria's 80 Federal Government Colleges (FGCs), but only 66,950 sat the test conducted on Saturday, June 6, 2026, across centres in Nigeria, the Benin Republic, and Togo. The remaining 3,407 candidates were absent.
Results for Federal Government Academy, Suleja
Prof. Ahmad also released the results for the Federal Government Academy, Suleja. Of the 2,071 candidates who registered for that examination, 1,876 sat the test while 195 were absent. The highest score recorded was 187 marks, equivalent to 89.05 per cent of the total obtainable score, while the lowest was four marks.
Admission Formula Remains Unchanged
The minister confirmed that the criteria for admission into Federal Government Colleges will not change, with placements to be distributed on the basis of 60 per cent merit, 30 per cent equality of states, and 10 per cent exigency. She directed the Senior Secondary Education Department to conclude the admission exercise promptly and strictly within these approved guidelines.
Prof. Ahmad described the NCEE as one of Nigeria's most competitive entrance examinations, adding that it serves as the primary gateway for admission into Junior Secondary School One across Federal Government Colleges. She noted that the colleges continue to play a central role in fostering national unity and integration, and remain among the most sought-after secondary institutions by parents nationwide.
Government Pledges Continued Investment
The minister further pledged that the Federal Government would maintain its investment in the unity colleges, particularly in areas of infrastructure, feeding programmes, and teacher quality. Prof. Ahmad said: "Our Federal Government Colleges have become the first choice for many parents across Nigeria. We will continue to improve infrastructure, feeding and the quality of teachers to ensure better learning outcomes for our children."
UK University to Open Campus in Nigeria
In related education news, Legit.ng earlier reported that the United Kingdom-based Coventry University has agreed to open a campus in Nigeria, offering foreign certificates to Nigerian students locally. Minister of Education Tunji Alausa, part of President Bola Tinubu's entourage on a state visit to the UK, announced the development on his social media page on Wednesday, March 18, stating that "with Coventry University Nigeria, our students will be able to earn fully accredited UK degrees, at significantly lower cost, without leaving the country."
