The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination External, announcing a strong national performance with 71.63 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim-Wushishi, made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, confirming the official release of the long-awaited results.
According to him, the 2025 SSCE External examination was conducted between November 26 and December 13, 2025, while the marking exercise took place from January 5 to January 21, 2026. He noted that the results were released 52 days after the conclusion of the examination, describing the timeline as part of NECO’s commitment to efficiency and transparency.
Out of the 96,979 candidates who registered for the examination nationwide, 95,160 eventually sat for the papers. Data released by the council showed that male candidates constituted the majority, while female candidates made up the remaining percentage.
A breakdown of subject performance revealed impressive outcomes, particularly in core subjects. Professor Ibrahim-Wushishi stated that 78.32 per cent of candidates earned a credit or above in English Language, while Mathematics recorded an even higher success rate, with 91.35 per cent achieving credit and above.
Overall, 68,166 candidates successfully obtained five credits or more including English Language and Mathematics, a key benchmark for admission into Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions. In addition, 82,082 candidates earned five credits or more irrespective of English and Mathematics, further reflecting a broad improvement in candidate performance.
The NECO registrar reiterated that the SSCE External remains a critical pathway for candidates seeking a second chance to qualify for higher education in Nigeria and overseas. He added that the examination covered 16 subjects, underscoring the council’s mandate to provide credible and inclusive assessment opportunities.
However, the 2025 examination was not without challenges. Ibrahim-Wushishi disclosed that 9,016 candidates were involved in various forms of examination malpractice, representing a 31.7 per cent increase compared to the previous year. He also revealed that five supervisors have been recommended for blacklisting over alleged involvement in aiding malpractice during the examination.
NECO assured Nigerians that it remains resolute in strengthening examination integrity while improving candidate outcomes, stressing that sanctions would continue to be enforced against anyone found undermining the credibility of the examination process.
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