Insecurity: NECO attributes uninterrupted exams to staff resilience

By Mariam Abeeb

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has credited the resilience and commitment of its workforce for maintaining the uninterrupted conduct of national examinations despite widespread security challenges, including insurgency, banditry, and sit-at-home orders.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Council’s 2025 Annual Staff Productivity Award Ceremony in Minna, Niger State, NECO Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, commended employees, whom he described as the “Army of NECO”,for their round-the-clock dedication under hazardous conditions.

“During the heydays of Boko Haram, the activities of Boko Haram never stopped NECO’s examinations. Banditry, kidnapping, and sit-at-home orders have never stopped our examinations,” Wushishi said, comparing the workforce’s operational readiness to that of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Prof. Wushishi emphasized that the annual productivity awards aim to boost staff morale, encourage healthy competition, and reinforce service delivery standards, stressing that productivity relies on integrity, timeliness, and measurable outcomes.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, commended the initiative, noting that the credibility of national examinations relies heavily on the competence and integrity of the personnel executing them.

He urged the staff to maintain high operational standards to safeguard public trust in examination results.

The event featured awards across several categories, honoring hardworking staff, retirees, top state coordinators, drivers, and outstanding students: State Coordinator of the Year: Miss Ruth Nnamani (Cross River State).

Also, excellence performance awards were doled out to Mrs. Tabitha Kopdungha (Plateau State), Mr. Garba Sandy (Niger State), and Mr. Rabiu Yakubu (Kaduna State).

Equally, retiree service certificates were conferred on 55 retirees, including former Director of Registration, Mrs. Hajara Ali; former Director of South-South Zone, Mr. Irem Obiahu; former Director of Test Development, Mr. Michael Okei; and Acting Director of South-East Zone, Mr. Samuel Adiniyi.

Furthermore, Special Student Recognition (2025 Examinations) –

SSCE (Best Candidates) went to Akai Bernice Kuyet (Female) and Eke Felix Emenike (Male), both of School Sense Barnawa, Kaduna State, while BECE (Best Candidates) went to Michael Daniela Chiamaka (Female) of Chrisland High School Ikeja, Lagos, and Salihu Amir Umar (Male) of Kadwel International Schools, Kaduna.

“National Gifted Examination (NGE): Master Ezeundu Samuel Akachukwu (Male) of God’s Wisdom Int’l School, Anambra, and Ubochi Akunnaya (Female) of Diamond Special Schools, Owerri.

“National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE): Alocha Naeto Daniel (Male) of Remmon Home Academy, and Adenuga Monsurat Feyisara (Female) of Ar-Rahman Montessori School, Ojota,” NECO added.