The Federal Government said the National Examination Council is spearheading reforms in the education sector as it prepares to roll out a computer-based examination later in 2025, a move officials say will help curb cheating and bring fresh scrutiny to national testing.
Dr. Tunji Alausa said on Thursday in Abuja, during NECO’s 25th anniversary and silver jubilee celebration, that the new system would track and detect suspicious activity while giving exam authorities real-time monitoring of candidates. He said the council has continued to serve as the standard-bearer for external examinations and that certificates should reflect genuine mastery and readiness for what comes next.
“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading – and that is the Computer-Based Examination (CBE), which is to commence this year,” Alausa said. He added that Nigeria must move toward assessment methods that reflect 21st-century competencies, including critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy.
The reforms land at a milestone moment for the council, which was established as a national examination body to oversee standardized assessments for public examinations. NECO marked its 25 years in Abuja with officials casting the shift to computer-based testing as part of a broader effort to modernize how the country measures learning and certification.
Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi said NECO began as a bold initiative to harmonise and improve the administration of national examinations, but faced limited public trust, infrastructure gaps and questions over whether its assessments were valid and reliable. He said the council built credibility through firm procedures, timely release of results and consistent standards.
“This occasion is not merely a celebration of the passage of time; it is a reflective moment to honour our journey, celebrate our achievements, and reaffirm our commitment to excellence in public examination administration,” Wushishi said. The push for computer-based testing now gives that record a practical test: whether NECO can preserve trust while changing the way millions may one day sit for exams.
