A total of 64,000 candidates sat for the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) across Nigeria on Saturday, according to the National Examinations Council (NECO).
The exam, which determines admission into the country’s 115 federal unity colleges, saw Lagos State topping the list with over 15,000 registered candidates.
NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed this during a monitoring visit to selected schools in Abuja, led by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad.
He also noted that 109 candidates from the Benin Republic and Togo—primarily Nigerian citizens—participated in the exam, with Togo having the lowest registration figure at just 17.
“This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our unity colleges,” Wushishi said. He added that the examination was conducted without any reported hitches, with materials arriving on time and exams starting as scheduled.
Provisions were also made for children with special needs, including braille materials and support personnel.
Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, after inspecting Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada, expressed satisfaction with the exercise. “I’m very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active,” she said.
She also highlighted that the gender distribution showed 30,000 male and 34,000 female candidates, indicating a healthy interest in unity schools among girls.
The minister emphasized that the strong turnout demonstrates continued trust in federal unity colleges. “This turnout shows that parents still value the role of unity schools in national cohesion,” she added.
Also speaking, the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Binta Abdulkadir, noted that final admissions would be based on merit, state quota, and other relevant factors. She also acknowledged the high number of civil servants’ children among the candidates and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a fair and inclusive admission process.
What you should know
The 2025 NCEE recorded 64,000 candidates nationwide, with Lagos State leading in registration. The exam ran smoothly and included children with special needs. The Federal Government affirmed that admissions into unity schools will be merit-based, reflecting public trust in these institutions’ role in fostering national unity.
