By The Federal Government has announced that the National Examinations Council will commence computer based examinations this year as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s assessment system and curb examination malpractice. The announcement was made on Thursday 7th of May, during the 25th anniversary celebration of NECO in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
As confirmed by The Punch, the minister said the transition to technology driven examinations represented a major reform aimed at strengthening the credibility of public examinations and aligning Nigeria’s education system with global standards. He noted that the introduction of computer based testing would improve transparency and enhance confidence in examination processes across the country.
“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,” the minister said.
Alausa explained that the new system would enable examination authorities to monitor candidates in real time, detect suspicious activities and significantly reduce cases of examination malpractice. He described NECO as an important institution in promoting integrity and accountability within the education sector over the past 25 years.
According to the minister, NECO has grown into a dependable examination body that has expanded access to examinations in underserved communities while improving examination security and scoring reliability. He added that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to provide oversight to ensure the council’s activities remain in line with national educational goals and curriculum standards.
The minister also stressed the need for educational assessments to move beyond rote memorisation and focus more on critical thinking, digital literacy and problem solving skills. He expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between NECO and the Ministry of Education would further improve the quality and credibility of examinations in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Dantani Wushishi, said the council had expanded its operations beyond Nigeria and now conducts examinations in eight countries. He stated that the development reflected growing international acceptance of NECO certificates and the council’s rising reputation among global examination bodies.
Wushishi further revealed that NECO had introduced several reforms including digital verification systems, electronic certificates, e-library services and data analytics platforms. He added that the council was expanding its infrastructure with new offices and zonal directorates while intensifying efforts against examination malpractice.
