The Federal Government has announced that the National Examinations Council will commence Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) this year as part of sweeping reforms aimed at curbing examination malpractice and modernising Nigeria’s assessment system.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made the disclosure on Thursday during the council’s 25th anniversary celebration held in Abuja.
According to the minister, the transition to technology-driven examinations represents a major milestone in strengthening the credibility, transparency, and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s public examination system.
“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination, which is to commence this year,” Alausa stated.
He explained that the adoption of computer-based testing would enable real-time monitoring of candidates, improve examination security, and drastically reduce incidents of malpractice such as impersonation, collusion, and question leaks.
The minister described NECO as a critical institution in safeguarding integrity and accountability within the education sector, noting that the examination body had evolved into a trusted national institution over the last 25 years.
Alausa said the council’s progress reflected Nigeria’s determination to build a credible examination system capable of offering equal opportunities to students across the country.
He added that NECO had made significant strides in improving examination security, enhancing scoring reliability, expanding access to underserved communities, and deploying technological innovations that had strengthened public confidence in its certificates.
The minister further assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to provide the necessary oversight to ensure NECO’s examinations remained aligned with national educational objectives and curriculum standards.
He also stressed the need for Nigeria’s educational assessment system to move beyond rote memorisation and focus more on critical thinking, digital literacy, innovation, and problem-solving skills.
“As we celebrate this Silver Jubilee, may NECO and the Ministry of Education continue to work in unison, fostering trust, driving reform, and ensuring that certification remains a passport to brighter futures for all students,” he said.
In his remarks, the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Dantani Wushishi, revealed that the council had expanded its operations beyond Nigeria and was now conducting examinations in eight countries.
Wushishi described the expansion as evidence of growing international recognition and acceptance of NECO certificates.
“Today, NECO stands as a benchmark for credible examinations in the region and among international peers,” he stated.
The registrar noted that despite early challenges ranging from public scepticism to infrastructure limitations and credibility concerns, the council had transformed into a globally recognised examination institution.
He disclosed that NECO had introduced several reforms, including digital verification systems, e-certificates, e-library services, and data analytics platforms aimed at improving efficiency and service delivery.
Wushishi also announced ongoing infrastructure expansion projects, including the construction of offices in 10 states and the establishment of additional zonal directorates to strengthen operations nationwide.
According to him, the council recently acquired operational vehicles to improve examination logistics and monitoring across the country.
He added that NECO would intensify efforts to combat examination malpractice while deepening its digital transformation agenda in the years ahead.
Wushishi commended former Nigerian leaders, including Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Olusegun Obasanjo for their contributions to the establishment and growth of the examination body.
Stakeholders at the event described NECO’s 25-year journey as a remarkable achievement and expressed optimism that the introduction of computer-based examinations would significantly improve transparency, efficiency, and credibility in Nigeria’s educational assessment system.
The planned transition marks a major shift in Nigeria’s public examination framework, which has long struggled with widespread malpractice concerns. In recent years, other examination bodies such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board have successfully adopted computer-based testing, citing improved security, faster result processing, and reduced opportunities for fraud.
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