The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the 2025 Senior Schools Certificate Examinations, commending President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support to it.

The announcement was made by the council’s Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, at a media briefing on Wednesday in Minna.

According to him, the event was the culmination of a rigorous assessment process.

Mr Wushishi said that it was a reaffirmation of their collective commitment to quality education, merit, integrity and national development.

On Mr Tinubu’s support, the chairman said, “Your leadership, vision and unwavering commitment in which institutions like NECO can strive for higher standards, transparency and accountability. Your support fuels our drive to deliver fair, credible and timely results for our nation’s students. This is a demonstration of the renewed hope for Nigeria’s education system.”

Mr Wushishi also applauded the invaluable support of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad and the Permanent Secretary, Dr Abel Enitan.

He said, “Their steadfast collaboration and the successful implementation of reforms that underpin our assessment systems. Your efforts to ensure that our examinations reflect accurately the learning outcomes we seek to certify and that they remained aligned with national aspirations.”

He assured of their readiness to always key into their noble objectives.

Mr Wushishi further commended the National Assembly especially the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Education (Basic and Secondary).

He also commended the various stakeholders especially Niger State government for their remarkable support and cooperation to the or organisation.

Meanwhile, the chairman stated that the council released the 2025 SSCE internal results 54 days after the last written paper.

Mr Wushishi said that out of the 1,358,339 candidates who sat for the June/July exercise, 818,492, representing 60.26 per cent scored 5 credits and above, including Mathematics and English.

He stated that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of Mathematics and English was 1,144,496 representing 84.26 per cent.

He stated, “Number of candidates that registered for the examination is 1,367,210 representing 685,514 Males and 681,696 females. Number of candidates that sat is 1,358,339 representing 680,292 males and 678,047 females. Number of candidates with five credits and above, including Mathematics and English is 818,492 representing 60.26%. Number of candidates with five Credits and above, irrespective of Mathematics and English is 1,144,496 representing 84.26%.’’

Recall that the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination was conducted from Monday 16th June to Friday July 25, 2025.

Mr Wushishi stated that the number of candidates with special needs was 1,622 out of which candidates with hearing impairment were 586 males and 355 females.

He further said that candidates with visual impairment were 111 males and 80 females.

On the number of examination malpractice cases, the registrar said that in 2025 SSCE internal, the number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice was 3,878, as against 10,094 in 2024, which showed a reduction of 61.58 per cent.

He further disclosed that during the conduct of the 2025 SSCE, 38 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (Mass) cheating in 13 states.

Mr Wushishi said that they would be invited to the council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions would be applied.

He said, “Similarly, nine supervisors: 03 in Rivers, 01 in Niger, 03 in FCT, 01 in Kano and 01 in Osun, were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, lateness, unruly behaviour, assault, and insubordination. I wish to also draw your attention to a case in Lamorde Local Government, Adamawa State, involving eight schools which were affected by a communal clash. This resulted in the disruption of our examinations from 7th to 25th July 2025. A total of thirteen subjects and twenty-nine papers were involved. We have since commenced talks with the state government with a view to conducting the examinations for the affected Schools.”

Mr Wushishi announced that in view of the reviewed curriculum, which was currently being implemented, NECO would conduct SSCE examination on only 38 subjects, to reduce the waiting time for the results.

Providing a breakdown of performance by states, he stated that Kano State came top with 68,159, representing 5.020 per cent candidates scoring five credits and above including English and Mathematics.

Also, Lagos State came second in performance with 67,007 or 4.930 per cent of candidates, scoring five credits and above including English and mathematics.

Similarly, Oyo came third with 48,742 candidates scoring five credits and above including English and mathematics.

Mr Wushishi said that the least performing centre was Gabon, with no candidate scoring five credits and above including English and mathematics.

(NAN)