Over 64,000 Candidates Sit For Neco’s 2025 Entrance Exams Into Federal Unity Colleges
More than 64,000 candidates from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo participated in the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) on Saturday. The examination, organized by the National Examinations Council (NECO), is the gateway to securing admission into Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools).
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, monitored the exercise at several centres in Abuja, including Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada. She expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exams.
According to the minister, the 2025 edition attracted 64,000 candidates—30,000 boys and 34,000 girls—signifying strong and growing interest in Federal Unity Schools.
“I’m pleased with how the exams went. They began on time, the students were well-behaved, and invigilators were present and attentive. This turnout clearly reflects the trust Nigerians have in our unity colleges,” Prof. Ahmad remarked.
She also emphasized that the high participation rate demonstrates continued public confidence in the quality and importance of Federal Government Colleges in promoting national unity.
In his remarks, NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, revealed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates, with over 15,000 entries. Meanwhile, the Republic of Togo had the fewest, with just 17 candidates—all Nigerian citizens residing there.
“In total, 109 candidates registered from both Benin and Togo. This shows how widespread and valued our unity schools have become, even among Nigerians living abroad,” Wushishi said.
He further noted that the examination was conducted without any reported hitches, with materials arriving promptly and examinations commencing as scheduled.
“This level of coordination is encouraging and gives us confidence that future senior-level exams, such as WAEC and NECO SSCE, will also run smoothly,” he added.
Wushishi also highlighted efforts to support candidates with special needs, confirming the provision of braille materials and appropriate assistance.
Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Binta Abdulkadir, stated that admission into unity schools will be based on merit, state quota, and public interest considerations—especially for children of public servants.
“Admission decisions will be made once the results are released, but we remain dedicated to a transparent and inclusive process,” she assured.