The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, has lauded the National Examinations Council (NECO) for its efficient and smooth conduct of the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Government Colleges.

On Saturday, over 64,000 pupils from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries such as the Republic of Benin and Togo participated in the annual exam, a key gateway into the country’s unity schools.

The Minister, after monitoring the exercise at Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, both in Abuja, expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation and execution.

“I’m very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active. We had 64,000 candidates, 30,000 male and 34,000 female, which shows a strong interest in our unity colleges,” she said.

She further emphasised that the turnout demonstrated continued public confidence in the unity school system, which was designed to promote national integration.

“Nigerians are still eager to have their children in Federal Government Colleges. This turnout shows that parents still value the role of unity schools in national cohesion,” she added.

NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, confirmed that Lagos recorded the highest number of candidates, with over 15,000 registered. At the other end of the spectrum, the Republic of Togo had the lowest turnout, with just 17 candidates.

“This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our unity colleges,” he said, noting that about 109 candidates from Benin and Togo—mostly Nigerian nationals—took part in the exam.

He added that no logistical or technical issues were reported during the conduct of the examination, with materials arriving on time and the process proceeding smoothly nationwide.

Wushishi also highlighted efforts to support candidates with special needs, noting that braille materials and relevant assistance were provided.

Meanwhile, Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Ministry, assured that the final admissions would be guided by merit, the federal character principle, and provisions for children of civil servants.

“Final admissions will depend on the released results, but we remain committed to a fair and inclusive process,” she said.