NECO Marks 25 Years, Rolls Out Computer-Based Exams for Global Reach

The Federal Government has announced that the National Examinations Council, known as NECO, is preparing to introduce Computer-Based Examinations later this year.

The CBE plan is part of wider reforms to protect the honesty, safety and integrity of national examinations.

The announcement was made on Thursday in Abuja during the celebration of NECO’s 25th anniversary.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, spoke at the event as the chief host. He said moving to computer-based testing would help Nigeria fight examination malpractice.

Under the computer-based format, the system can flag suspicious activity while an examination is taking place. It can also help officials monitor candidates in real time.

This means unusual actions may be noticed quickly instead of being discovered only after an examination has ended. The government believes this power can make cheating harder and give honest candidates better protection.

Examination malpractice does more than break a rule. It can give unfair success to a person who did not earn it, while a hardworking candidate is pushed aside. It also weakens trust in certificates. Alausa presented CBE as one major tool that can help protect the value of NECO examinations.

The minister described NECO as a benchmark institution for external examinations. He said the Council was built to make sure that its certificates truly show what candidates know and what they are ready to do next.

A certificate should not be an empty piece of paper. It should show that a candidate has mastered the required knowledge and is prepared for further education, training or other opportunities.

Alausa explained that NECO was created as one unified national body responsible for standardised assessments. From its early days, the Council focused on secure examination administration, dependable scoring and prompt release of results.

Secure administration helps protect examination questions and the wider process. Dependable scoring allows candidates to trust that their performance has been marked properly, while prompt results reduce long periods of painful waiting.

The minister said these efforts helped rebuild public trust in national certification over the years. People needed to believe that NECO results were reliable; and the Council had to earn that belief through its work.

Looking toward the future, Alausa asked for new methods of assessment that measure the skills needed in the present era.

He said examinations should test critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy. These skills go beyond remembering information. They show whether a candidate can understand a problem, think through it and use knowledge in a useful way.

However, the minister did not call for weaker examinations. He said the system must continue to maintain rigorous standards even while it introduces new methods and new areas of assessment.

He described the coming Computer-Based Examinations as an important step in this direction. The shift is expected to support modern testing while helping NECO guard the integrity of the examination process.

NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, also spoke during the anniversary event. He reflected on the difficult early years of the Council.

According to Wushishi, NECO began its work while facing low public confidence. Many people were unsure about the new examination body and questioned whether its assessments could be trusted.

The Council also struggled with inadequate infrastructure. At the same time, doubts remained over the reliability of the examinations it conducted.

These were heavy problems for a new national institution. An examination body cannot survive on a name alone; schools, candidates and the public must believe in its process and results.

Wushishi said NECO worked to build credibility through consistent procedures and timely results. The Council had to show, year after year, that it could follow dependable processes and complete its duties properly.

NECO later introduced online registration and internet-based result checking. Wushishi described this change as a turning point in the Council’s history.

Online registration changed how candidates entered for examinations, while internet-based result checking made it possible to access results more easily.

According to Wushishi, these digital services brought more speed, transparency and convenience. Candidates and institutions no longer had to depend only on older methods to complete registration or receive results.

The Registrar also said NECO’s reputation has grown beyond Nigeria. The Council now conducts examinations in eight countries.

Wushishi linked this wider standing to NECO’s commitment to global best practices. He mentioned assessment design, data security and stakeholder engagement as important areas.

Assessment design covers how examinations are planned and structured. Data security protects sensitive information, while stakeholder engagement allows NECO to work with the people and institutions connected to its examinations.

The Council has also continued to work with regional and international partners. Wushishi said this cooperation, together with proper standards, has supported NECO’s growing reputation outside Nigeria.

Alausa and Wushishi both recognised the importance of government support. They also praised the contributions of the people who founded NECO.

According to the two officials, this backing helped the Council carry out its work effectively and maintain public confidence over the past 25 years.

The anniversary therefore carried two strong messages. The first looked back at NECO’s difficult beginning, digital progress and growth into an examination body operating in eight countries.

The second looked forward to Computer-Based Examinations, stronger protection against malpractice and assessments that measure critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy.

The CBE plan is expected to begin later this year. Its success will depend on how well the system protects fairness, monitors suspicious activity and keeps NECO’s standards strong.

After 25 years, the Council is preparing for another major change. The aim is clear; every result must be trusted, every honest candidate must be protected and every NECO certificate must carry real value.

This report is based on information from the Federal Ministry of Education and NECO’s 25th anniversary event.