Over 80% Record Five Credits as NECO Unveils 2025 External SSCE Results

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, with performance data showing that more than 80 per cent of candidates obtained at least five credit passes.

The announcement was made on Tuesday February 3 by NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Wushishi, during a briefing at the Council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.

According to him, the release underscores the growing relevance of the external examination as a viable pathway for certification outside the conventional school system.

Out of the 96,979 candidates who registered for the examination, 95,160 sat for papers in 16 subjects. Male candidates numbered 51,823 (53.43 per cent), while females accounted for 45,156 (46.56 per cent), reflecting sustained participation across gender lines.

Subject-by-subject analysis showed strong outcomes in core areas. In English Language, 73,167 candidates, representing 78.32 per cent, earned credit passes and above. Mathematics recorded a higher success rate, with 85,256 candidates (91.35 per cent) achieving credits and above.

Overall, 68,166 candidates (71.63 per cent) secured five credits including English and Mathematics, while 82,082 candidates (86.26 per cent) obtained five credits irrespective of the two subjects.

Professor Wushishi confirmed that candidates can access their results through NECO’s official website using their registration numbers, reiterating the council’s commitment to timely service delivery.

On examination integrity, NECO disclosed that 9,016 candidates were booked for various forms of malpractice, marking a 31.7 per cent rise from the 6,160 cases recorded in 2024.

Five supervisors from the FCT, Kano, Adamawa and Ondo States were recommended for blacklisting, while four centres in Niger, Yobe and Kano States face de-recognition for whole-centre malpractice.

The SSCE External is designed mainly for private candidates, including individuals who missed the internal examination or those seeking to improve their grades.

NECO maintained that stricter monitoring and enforcement measures will be sustained to preserve the credibility of future examinations.