The National Examinations Council (NECO) has taken another bold step in its mission to expand its global presence by establishing a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom. The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, unveiled the new centre in collaboration with Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education) London.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony, Professor Wushishi explained that the NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Centre at BEP Education represents a strategic milestone in providing greater access to quality education for Nigerians in the diaspora. The Registrar made this known while delivering a keynote address at the “Education Matters Conference UK 2025,” an event organized by NECO to inform and sensitize education stakeholders on the Council’s presence in the United Kingdom.
According to him, the establishment of the centre aims to create opportunities for Nigerian students and adult learners in the United Kingdom who, for various reasons, have been unable to complete their secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications. He emphasized that NECO’s goal is to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians living abroad in line with the federal government’s education policy on inclusivity and global engagement.
Professor Wushishi also highlighted some of his achievements since assuming office in 2021, particularly NECO’s full migration to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE). He described this transition as “the single most critical strategic objective for NECO’s future and its standing as a world-class assessment body.”
He reaffirmed NECO’s commitment to the Nigerian diaspora and the wider African educational landscape, noting that the Council’s global reach continues to expand. “NECO SSCE is now successfully administered in seven countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said. “Our global expansion is accelerating, as we currently have new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso, further solidifying NECO as a premier African assessment body.”
The Registrar added that the establishment of the NECO SSCE Centre in London offers far-reaching benefits such as direct empowerment of the diaspora community, elevation of national pride, promotion of Nigeria’s global educational standing, and economic and social dividends. “This development will leverage our proven educational capacity to enhance access to education among Nigerians abroad,” he stated.
Professor Wushishi further disclosed that NECO certificates are already recognized and accepted by prestigious UK institutions, including Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University. He added that “NECO certificates are also accepted worldwide, including in the USA, Canada, India, China, and Russia, among others.”
In his goodwill message at the conference, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for the initiative, noting that it aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s mandate to serve every Nigerian child, including those in the diaspora. He emphasized that the Ministry views the diaspora community not just as people to be served but as a valuable resource to be empowered. “Every Nigerian student deserves an education that enables them to compete and thrive globally,” he said.
Dr. Alausa further described the accreditation of BEP Education as “the first step in a broader strategy to expand NECO’s reach to other strategic locations globally, turning Nigerian education into a universally respected and easily accessible brand.”
Also speaking at the conference, the Director of Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education), Dr. John Ibanga, who is NECO’s UK-based partner, stated that the event was organized to launch NECO’s official presence in the United Kingdom and raise awareness about the newly established NECO examination centre in London.
Dr. Ibanga highlighted that many Nigerian children in the United Kingdom face challenges within the British education system, particularly those unable to achieve the required General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualification. He noted that such students often experience limited progression opportunities, leading to educational disengagement and increased social vulnerability.
According to him, the new NECO SSCE Centre in London could serve as an alternative pathway, providing recognized qualifications for further education and vocational advancement. He said that NECO certificates, already accepted by several UK universities, would benefit both young learners and adults seeking academic or professional growth.
Other speakers at the conference applauded NECO for the initiative and pledged to support and promote the Council’s SSCE Computer-Based Examination Centre in London. They also assured that efforts would be made to sensitize Nigerians in the UK about the opportunity to enroll and participate in NECO’s examinations.
In a related development, Professor Wushishi led a NECO delegation on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commission in London. The visit, he explained, was to officially inform the High Commission about the establishment and accreditation of NECO’s examination centre in the United Kingdom.
He stated that NECO already operates similar centres in several African countries and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to him, “the United Kingdom, being home to a large Nigerian population, represents a strategic location for expanding access to education for Nigerians in the diaspora.”
Professor Wushishi noted that NECO had assessed and accredited a UK-based educational institution to serve as an authorized centre for the administration of NECO examinations. He said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s policy of expanding access to quality education for Nigerians abroad through the computer-based examination model.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Mission in London for their support and reaffirmed NECO’s commitment to maintaining strong communication and collaboration with Nigerian embassies and high commissions in countries where the Council operates. “In all the countries where we have NECO centres, we maintain official communication channels with Nigerian embassies and high commissions, especially for coordination of examination activities and public sensitization,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the Mission, the Head of Political Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, commended NECO for the initiative and described it as “a timely and commendable effort consistent with Nigeria’s policy on educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement.”
Ambassador Abu-Obe assured the NECO delegation that the Nigerian High Commission in London would continue to collaborate with the Council to promote Nigeria’s educational and developmental objectives in the United Kingdom.