NECO accredits schools in Niger, Equatorial Guinea, for SSCE, BECE

• NECO has accredited schools in Equatorial Guinea and Niger Republic, extending its reach beyond Nigeria
• Accredited schools underwent inspections of classrooms, laboratories, and other facilities to ensure compliance with NECO’s standards
• This initiative aligns with NECO’s vision to provide quality education and standardised assessments across Africa and beyond

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has accredited additional foreign schools to participate in its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). 

This move marks a significant milestone in NECO's efforts to expand its global presence and enhance access to quality education across borders.

In a statement released on November 23, Azeez Sani, NECO’s Acting Head of Information and Public Relations, confirmed the accreditation of schools in Equatorial Guinea and Niger Republic. 

He explained that the initiative underscores NECO's commitment to providing standardised assessments to students outside Nigeria, furthering its goal of becoming a leading examination body in Africa.

To ensure readiness, a NECO accreditation team visited the selected schools and comprehensively evaluated their facilities. 

Sani said, “The team inspected classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer laboratories, workshops, examination halls, and sports facilities to assess their adequacy and suitability for NECO examinations. After a thorough evaluation, the schools were granted full SSCE and BECE accreditation status.”

The accreditation process reflects NECO’s stringent standards for educational institutions, ensuring that facilities meet effective learning and assessment benchmarks.

With the addition of these schools, NECO’s reach now spans multiple countries, including Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

The expansion highlights NECO's ambition to support students in the African region and beyond, offering them opportunities to benefit from its expertise.

Sani emphasised the significance of this development, stating, “The accreditation of additional foreign schools is a testament to NECO’s dedication to advancing education in Africa and beyond. As its global presence grows, NECO is poised to lead in providing quality assessments to students worldwide.”

In a related development, NECO revealed that candidates in Diffa, Niger Republic, are participating in the ongoing NECO SSCE External examination. 

The UNHCR School in Diffa has been designated the first NECO SSCE External Centre outside Nigeria. This development marks a historic achievement for the examination body and opens the door for similar initiatives in other countries.

Last year, NECO took a similar step by accrediting centres in Niger Republic to cater to Nigerian students in the Francophone region. The success of that initiative has paved the way for further expansions.

Through these efforts, NECO continues demonstrating its commitment to ensuring access to quality education and standardised examinations for students worldwide. By breaking geographical barriers, NECO is helping shape the future of education on the continent and beyond.

NANS kicks against NECO’s N50,000 certificate reprinting fee

Meanwhile, TheRadar previously reported that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) disapproved of NECO N50,000 fee for reprinting certificates. This was revealed in a statement signed by Abdulyekinn Odunayo, the NANS clerk of the Senate, on Wednesday, October 2. 

NANS described the action as a commercialisation of education even with the financial hardship and uncertainty in the country.