Share
Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
2 weeks ago
Overview
NECO opens UK centre, awaits Egypt, B’Faso accreditation
Determined to expand its global footprint, the National Examinations Council has established a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, who inaugurated the centre in London, described the initiative as a strategic move to broaden access to education for Nigerians in the diaspora. “The NECO SSCE Centre with Barnfield Education, London, United Kingdom, represents a strategic location for expanding access to education for Nigerians in the diaspora,” he said.
According to a statement on Sunday by NECO’s Acting Head of Public Relations, Azeez Sani, Wushishi delivered a keynote address at the Education Matters Conference UK 2025, organised by NECO to sensitise stakeholders to the council’s presence in the United Kingdom. He explained that the move would create opportunities for Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who, for various reasons, have been unable to complete their secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.
Wushishi said the council’s objective was to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians residing abroad, in line with the Federal Government’s education policy on inclusivity and global engagement. Wushishi reaffirmed NECO’s commitment to the Nigerian diaspora and the broader African educational landscape, disclosing that the council’s Senior School Certificate Examination is now administered in seven countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Our global expansion is accelerating, as we currently have new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso, further solidifying NECO as a premier African assessment body,” he said.
Reeling out some of his major achievements since assuming office in 2021, he noted that NECO’s full migration to Computer-Based Examinations remained its single most critical strategic objective. “Our commitment to full migration to Computer-Based Examination is the single most critical strategic objective for NECO’s future and its standing as a world-class assessment body,” he stated. He added that the establishment of the NECO SSCE Centre at Barnfield Education in London would have far-reaching benefits, including the empowerment of the diaspora, enhancement of national pride, and increased global recognition for Nigeria’s education system.
The registrar also noted that NECO certificates are recognised by several prestigious UK institutions, including Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University, and are accepted worldwide in countries such as the United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia. In his goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the establishment of the London centre aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s mandate to serve every Nigerian child, including those in the diaspora.
“The Federal Ministry of Education views the diaspora not just as a community to serve but as a resource to be empowered. Every Nigerian student deserves an education that enables them to compete and thrive globally,” Alausa said. He commended NECO for the initiative, describing the accreditation of Barnfield Education as “the first step in a broader strategy to expand NECO’s reach to other strategic locations globally, turning Nigerian education into a universally respected and easily accessible brand.”
In his remarks, the Director of Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education) and NECO’s UK-based partner, Dr John Ibanga, said the conference was organised to launch NECO’s presence in the United Kingdom and create awareness about the new examination centre. Ibanga noted that many Nigerian children in the UK face challenges within the British education system, especially those unable to meet the requirements for the General Certificate of Secondary Education.
He explained that such students often encounter limited progression opportunities, leading to educational disengagement and exposure to social vulnerabilities. “The new NECO SSCE Centre in London provides an alternative pathway, offering recognised qualifications that support further education and vocational advancement,” Ibanga said, adding that the initiative would benefit both young learners and adults seeking academic or career development. Other speakers at the conference commended NECO for the initiative and pledged to sensitise Nigerians in the United Kingdom to support and patronise the new NECO SSCE Computer-Based Examination Centre in London.
NECO has previously expanded its international operations by accrediting schools in several countries, including Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Saudi Arabia. The UNHCR School in Diffa, Niger Republic, became NECO’s first external SSCE centre outside Nigeria. The accreditation process involves thorough evaluations of schools’ readiness to conduct NECO examinations, with inspections covering classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, and sports facilities to ensure compliance with required standards.
With this expansion, NECO aims to provide students worldwide with access to credible Nigerian examinations and to contribute to the advancement of education within Africa and beyond—reflecting its commitment to broadening its horizon and strengthening its global presence.
Credit: Punch
