- The National Examinations Council, NECO, plans to set up six dedicated examination centres for police families in Lagos State
- The centres will cater to various NECO examinations, including SSCE, BECE, Common Entrance, and the National Gifted Examination
- Officials will inspect the proposed locations to ensure they meet the necessary requirements
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced plans to establish dedicated examination centres for police families in Lagos State.
The initiative was revealed by the Registrar of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja.
Prof. Wushishi stated that NECO would set up six examination centres to cater specifically to police families, ensuring easier access to examinations.
He highlighted the five categories of examinations conducted by NECO, which include:
1. The National Gifted Examination, for placement into the Federal Government Academy, Suleja.
2. The National Common Entrance Examination.
3. The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
4. The Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) for internal candidates.
5. The SSCE (external), which allows private candidates to reattempt subjects needed for tertiary admission.
He emphasised that the initiative would benefit police families, as their children and wards often need convenient examination centres to meet academic requirements.
“We will deploy our officials to assess the proposed locations and ensure the necessary facilities are available before granting approval.
“This initiative is crucial because police officers serve the nation, and their children deserve seamless access to examinations to improve their academic performance,” Wushishi stated.
He also acknowledged the financial constraints NECO faces in providing infrastructure such as offices but assured that efforts would be made to support the project.
Additionally, Wushishi appreciated the Nigeria Police for their role in ensuring security during NECO examinations.
He highlighted the existence of an Examination Intelligence Committee, which works with the police to investigate and curb examination malpractice.
Lagos State, he noted, has one of the highest numbers of NECO candidates.
“Last year, Lagos had over 98,000 candidates for the SSCE, making it the second-highest after Kano, which recorded over 104,000 candidates,” he said.
In response, CP Jimoh reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to supporting NECO.
He stressed that collaboration between the two institutions has been long-standing and would continue to strengthen examination security.
“From the pre-examination stage to the post-examination period, we have worked closely with NECO to ensure smooth and secure conduct of examinations.
“We are prepared to enhance our commitment further,” Jimoh said.
He confirmed that the six proposed NECO centres, three on the island and three on the mainland, were strategically chosen based on the high concentration of police families in those areas.
“We are confident that NECO will approve these centres, making it easier for police families to access examinations without travelling long distances,” Jimoh further stated.
NECO accredits schools in Niger, Equatorial Guinea, for SSCE, BECE
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the National Examinations Council (NECO) had accredited additional foreign schools to participate in its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
The move marked a significant milestone in NECO's efforts to expand its global presence and enhance access to quality education across borders.
