64,000 Pupils Sit for the 2025 National Common Entrance Exam
A total of 64,000 candidates from Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, and Togo participated in the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into Federal Government Colleges. The exam, conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), was held smoothly across all centers without any reported issues.
Speaking after monitoring the examination at Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, Kaduna, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise. According to her, the examination started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active.
“I am very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. We had 64,000 candidates, 30,000 boys and 34,000 girls, which shows a strong interest in our unity colleges,” she said. “Nigerians are still eager to have their children in Federal Government Colleges. This turnout shows that parents continue to value the role of unity schools in promoting national cohesion.”
The Registrar of NECO, Professor Ibrahim Wushishi, also commended the process, noting that Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with over 15,000, while the Republic of Togo had the lowest turnout, with 17 candidates. He added that 109 candidates from Benin Republic and Togo, who are all Nigerian citizens, took part in the exam, further emphasizing the regional reach of Nigeria’s unity schools.
“There were no challenges reported. Materials arrived on time, the exam started as scheduled, and the process went smoothly. This gives us confidence that the upcoming WAEC and NECO senior secondary school exams will follow the same pattern,” Wushishi stated.
The Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Binta Abdulkadir, clarified that admission into unity schools will be based on merit, state quota, and exigency, the latter of which largely accommodates children of civil servants.
The successful conduct of the 2025 NCEE reaffirms public confidence in the Federal Government’s education system and highlights the continued relevance of unity colleges in fostering national integration and academic excellence.
