Follow Us on Google
-
To launch Burkina Faso, Egypt centres soon
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced the establishment of a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom, in a bid to expand its global presence.
NECO Registrar Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, in a statement by Azeez Sani, Acting Director, Information and Public Relations, explained that the new NECO SSCE with Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education) London, United Kingdom, represents a strategic location for expanding access to education for Nigerians in the diaspora.
He further stated that the establishment of the centre would create opportunities for Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who, for various reasons, have been unable to complete secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.
He said: “NECO’s objective is 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.”
NECO Registrar reeled out some of his major achievements since his assumption of office in 2021, and added, “our commitment to full migration to Computer-Based Examination (CBE) is the single most critical strategic objective for NECO’s future and its standing as a world-class assessment body.”
He further disclosed that NECO SSCE is now successfully 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 added: “The establishment of a NECO SSCE Centre at BEP Education in London offers profound and far-reaching benefits such as direct empowerment of the diaspora, elevation of national pride and global standing, economic and social dividend, and leveraging proven educational capacity.”
The Registrar disclosed that NECO certificate is accepted and recognised by prestigious UK institutions such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University, adding that NECO certificates are also accepted worldwide, including the USA, Canada, India, China, and Russia, among others.”
Other News
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the establishment of the NECO SSCE Centre in London aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s mandate to serve every Nigerian child, including those in the diaspora.
He stated that the Federal Ministry of Education views the diaspora not just as a community to serve, but as a resource to be empowered, stressing that “every Nigerian student deserves an education that enables them to compete and thrive globally.”
The Minister commended NECO for the initiative and stated that the accreditation of BEP Education is 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.
The Director, Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education), who is also a NECO-UK based partner, Dr. John Ibanga, in his address, disclosed that many Nigerian children in the United Kingdom encounter challenges within the British education system, particularly those unable to achieve the required GCSE qualification.
He stated that such students often face limited progression opportunities, leading to educational disengagement and exposure to social vulnerabilities.
He said the new NECO SSCE Centre in London could serve as an alternative pathway, providing such students with recognised qualifications for further education and vocational advancement.
Ibanga explained that NECO certificates are already accepted by several UK universities and that this initiative would benefit both young learners and adults seeking academic or career development.
Other speakers commended NECO for the initiative and pledged to sensitise other Nigerians in the UK to support and patronise the NECO SSCE CBE Centre in London.
