By Rosemary Ogbonna

Federal Government remains committed to keeping national examinations affordable while strengthening integrity, innovation and global competitiveness, Vice-President Kashim Shettima said Thursday.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of the National Examinations Council in Abuja, Shettima said credible assessment systems are vital to building quality human capital and expanding opportunities for Nigerian youth.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Legal and Compliance, Bashir Maidugu, the Vice-President stressed that NECO must remain accessible to ordinary Nigerian students. “Education remains the bedrock of national development,” he said.

“A nation that invests in credible assessment systems invests directly in the quality of its human capital and the future of its society,” he added.

Under President Bola Tinubu, he said, the government will continue to create an enabling environment for educational institutions and ensure Nigerian students can compete confidently on the global stage.

“Let us continue to inspire our young people to dream boldly, study diligently, embrace integrity, and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Shettima said.

He recalled that NECO was established 25 years ago to provide a standardised, credible and nationally owned examination framework that assesses students with fairness and global relevance. The council, he said, has strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s education system by linking academic achievement to credible opportunities for advancement.

Former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Amb. Zubairu Dada, commended NECO for improving educational assessment and credibility over the past 25 years. Beyond administering exams, he said, NECO has influenced education policy and teaching through credible data that support policy decisions, resource allocation and planning.

Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa described NECO’s 25-year journey as pivotal to Nigeria’s education development, noting the council has strengthened accountability, expanded access, and restored public confidence in national certification.

He said the planned migration to computer-based testing will enhance transparency through real-time monitoring of candidates and detection of suspicious activity. According to him, digital technology has already cut examination fraud by 90 per cent in 2026, with a target of eliminating it entirely by 2027.

“This reform represents a critical milestone in modernising Nigeria’s assessment system and aligning examinations with global best practices,” Alausa said.

“We must explore innovative assessment approaches that reflect 21st-century competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy, while maintaining rigorous standards,” he added.

NECO Registrar and Chief Executive Prof. Dantani Wushishi said the council now conducts examinations in eight countries and was set up to harmonise national examinations and provide credible, reliable and accessible certification for Nigerian learners.

He said NECO overcame early challenges including limited public trust, infrastructure deficits and concerns about reliability through transparent procedures, strict standards and timely release of results. The introduction of online registration and internet-based result release, he noted, has improved efficiency, accessibility and public confidence.

Wushishi added that adherence to global best practices in assessment design, examination security and data management has earned NECO international recognition and acceptance of its certificates.

Highlighting recent achievements, he said the council is building new offices in 10 states, has launched the NECO e-Verify system and data analytics platforms, and created additional zonal directorates to improve staff development and service delivery.

Going forward, he said NECO will intensify anti-malpractice measures, expand digital certificates and e-services, strengthen international partnerships and widen access for learners in underserved communities.

Emeritus Prof. Pai Obanya of the Institute of Education, University of Ibadan, called for greater collaboration among examination bodies to share best practices in assessment as education evolves.