More than 64,000 candidates across Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo on Saturday took part in the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) for admission into Federal Government Colleges, popularly known as Unity Schools. The examination, conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), continues to serve as a gateway for young learners to access the nation’s flagship secondary schools.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the exercise recorded the participation of 30,000 male and 34,000 female candidates, reflecting a strong national interest and gender balance in the pursuit of quality public education.
Speaking after inspecting examination centres in Abuja — including Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada — the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination. She commended the timely start, orderly environment, and presence of active invigilators.
“I am very happy with the way the exams have been conducted,” she said. “The turnout shows that Nigerians still believe in Unity Schools and the role they play in promoting national cohesion.”
NECO Registrar, Professor Ibrahim Wushishi, also spoke at the event, noting that Lagos State had the highest number of registered candidates — over 15,000 — while Togo recorded the lowest with just 17. A total of 109 candidates from Benin Republic and Togo participated, most of whom are Nigerian citizens residing in the neighbouring countries.
Wushishi described the exercise as smooth and incident-free, adding that the seamless delivery of materials and timely commencement of the exam were encouraging signs ahead of future national examinations. He also acknowledged NECO’s efforts to include candidates with special needs, noting the provision of braille materials and trained support personnel to assist them.
“This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our Unity Colleges,” Wushishi stated.
Also commenting on the admission process, Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, explained that admissions into Unity Schools will be based on three key criteria: merit, state quota, and exigency — the latter accommodating mostly children of civil servants.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to a transparent and inclusive selection process, adding that the final list of admitted students will be released after the results are published.
The NCEE is an annual exercise that enables pupils to secure admission into the first year of junior secondary school in any of Nigeria’s 110 Unity Colleges. The current exercise highlights ongoing efforts by the government to strengthen the public education system and provide opportunities for children across all regions and socio-economic backgrounds.
