Kano State has emerged as the best-performing state in the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), with 68,159 candidates obtaining five credits and above, including English and Mathematics.
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This was disclosed by NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, during a news briefing on Wednesday in Minna. Lagos State secured the second position with 67,007 candidates meeting the benchmark, while Oyo State ranked third with 48,742 candidates achieving similar results.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, stated that Kano’s success reflects the administration’s unwavering focus on education. Under Governor Yusuf’s leadership, the state has introduced reforms such as free uniforms and learning materials, rehabilitation of classrooms, recruitment and training of teachers, enhanced funding for tertiary institutions, and targeted programmes to promote girl-child education.
“Our reforms are clearly yielding results, and this outstanding performance by our students proves that Kano is on the right path. Education remains our top priority, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure no child in Kano is left behind,” Governor Yusuf said.
Across the country, 1,358,339 candidates sat for the examination out of 1,367,210 registered, with 818,492 (60.26%) scoring five credits and above, including Mathematics and English. A total of 1,144,496 candidates (84.26%) attained five credits and above in any subject combination, reflecting broader academic success.
The council also reported a significant reduction in examination malpractice, with 3,878 cases recorded in 2025, a 61.58% decline from the previous year. Additionally, 1,622 candidates with special needs, including those with hearing and visual impairments, participated in the exams. The results were released 54 days after the final written paper.