June 14, 2025 – The Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, has praised the successful organisation of the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), which recorded over 64,000 candidates across Nigeria and select international centres. The examination was held for students seeking admission into Federal Unity Colleges.
Speaking during her monitoring tour at examination centres in Abuja, including Model Secondary School, Maitama and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Professor Ahmad said, “The conduct of the 2025 NCEE shows a clear demonstration of our efforts to build a strong and transparent education system across Nigeria.”
According to her, the examination was peaceful and well-coordinated, with high levels of punctuality and discipline observed among both candidates and NECO officials. She explained that this year’s exercise was particularly notable for its inclusiveness, recording 30,000 male and 34,000 female candidates.
The exam was conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO) across all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and designated centres in the Republic of Benin and Togo. Lagos State had the highest number of registered candidates with over 15,000, while Togo had the lowest turnout with just 17 candidates.
Professor Ahmad noted, “The turnout clearly shows the continued public trust in Unity Schools. These schools remain key to building national unity and raising young Nigerians with sound academic foundations.” She added that the success of the NCEE provides a good model for the upcoming Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), which is expected to commence soon.
NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, also confirmed the smooth running of the examination. He stated, “There were no major challenges. Materials were delivered on time to all centres, including those outside Nigeria.”
He stressed the symbolic value of the NCEE, describing it as a unifying force that brings Nigerian children together, both at home and abroad. He further noted NECO’s continued effort to support all candidates, including those with special needs such as autism and visual impairment, by providing suitable materials and assistance.
Professor Wushishi added, “The registration of 64,000 candidates for the NCEE proves that Nigerian parents still value the quality education and discipline offered in our Unity Schools.”
In a related update, Hajiya Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education, explained that admission into Unity Colleges follows a fair process based on merit, state quota, and other official considerations to promote equity.
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The Federal Ministry of Education has assured that it will continue to uphold and improve standards in Unity Schools and the broader education sector.