Kano State has topped Nigeria in the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), with 74,413 candidates achieving the minimum five‑credit benchmark that includes English Language and Mathematics. The result places Kano ahead of Lagos, which had 72,496 candidates, and Oyo, which recorded 55,543.
The figures were released on Saturday by Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Director‑General of Media and Publicity for the Kano State Government. He confirmed that the state had retained the top position for a second consecutive year, following its lead in the 2025 NECO examination.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf praised the students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders for the achievement. “The back‑to‑back performance is an indication that the state’s sustained investment in education is producing measurable results,” he said.
“The governor said his administration would sustain its investment in education through improved learning facilities, recruitment and training of teachers, scholarships and support for indigent students.”
Bature added that the state government spent more than N4.4 billion in 2026 to sponsor candidates for the SSCE, particularly those from indigent backgrounds. He said the intervention was designed to remove financial barriers and enable students to participate in the examinations under better conditions.
“The latest NECO performance was part of the improvement recorded by Kano students under his administration,” Governor Yusuf said. “He dedicated the achievement to students, teachers, parents and the people of Kano State, saying the government would continue working towards an education system that equips young people with the knowledge and skills required for higher education, employment, innovation and leadership.”
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
