NECO Releases 2025 External SSCE Results; 68,166 Candidates Secure Five Credits

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the 2025 External Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), marking a key milestone for private candidates across Nigeria.

In an announcement made at NECO’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Registrar and Chief Executive Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi revealed that a total of 96,979 candidates registered for the examination. This included 51,823 males (53.43%) and 45,156 females (46.56%).

Of these, 95,160 candidates actually sat for the exams. Performance highlights showed strong results in core subjects: In English Language, 93,425 candidates sat, with 73,167 (78.32%) obtaining credit and above; In Mathematics, 93,330 candidates participated, and 85,256 (91.35%) achieved credit and above.

Overall, 68,166 candidates — representing 71.63%— secured five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics. When excluding the requirement for credits in those two core subjects, 82,082 candidates (86.26%) recorded five credits and above.

The release comes amid efforts to maintain examination integrity. Professor Wushishi disclosed that 9,016 candidates were involved in various forms of malpractice, a 31.7% increase from the 6,160 cases in the previous year (2024).

In response, NECO recommended blacklisting five supervisorsb(two from the FCT, and one each from Kano, Adamawa, and Ondo States) for aiding malpractice. Additionally, four examination centres— two in Niger State and one each in Yobe and Kano States — face de-recognition for whole-centre involvement in irregularities.

Candidates can now check their results via the official NECO portal (results.neco.gov.ng) using their registration numbers and result checker tokens/pins.

This external SSCE, designed for private candidates outside the regular school system, covers 16 subjects and serves as a pathway for further education, employment, or certification needs.

The announcement underscores NECO’s commitment to timely result release and stricter enforcement against cheating, even as malpractice cases rose compared to the prior cycle. Stakeholders, including parents, educators, and candidates, are urged to access results promptly and report any issues through official channels.

For the latest updates, visit the NECO website or follow official announcements.