The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE Internal) results just 54 days after the last paper was written.
NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, announced the results at a press briefing in Minna, Niger State, on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Key Performance Statistics
Out of 1,367,210 registered candidates, 1,358,339 students sat for the June/July exams. A total of 818,492 candidates representing 60.26% , obtained at least five credits, including Mathematics and English Language. When Mathematics and English are excluded, 1,144,496 students (84.26%) met the benchmark.
By gender, 685,514 males and 681,696 females registered for the exams, while 680,292 males and 678,047 females participated.
Participation of Special Needs Candidates
The 2025 SSCE Internal took place between June 16 and July 25. NECO reported that 1,622 candidates with special needs participated.
Among them were 586 males and 355 females with hearing impairments, and 111 males and 80 females with visual impairments. Special accommodations ensured equal opportunities for all.
Sharp Decline in Exam Malpractice
Exam malpractice cases dropped significantly in 2025. Only 3,878 candidates were caught cheating, a 61.58% decrease from 10,094 in 2024. Thirty-eight schools across 13 states were involved in mass cheating and now face penalties.
Nine supervisors from Rivers (3), Niger (1), FCT (3), Kano (1), and Osun (1) have also been recommended for blacklisting over poor supervision, aiding malpractice, lateness, misconduct, assault, and insubordination.
Exam Disruptions in Adamawa
Communal clashes in Lamorde Local Government Area of Adamawa State disrupted exams for eight schools between July 7 and 25.
Thirteen subjects and 29 papers were affected. NECO is coordinating with the state government to reschedule these papers for affected students.
Updated Curriculum and State Rankings
In line with the updated curriculum, NECO will test only 38 subjects in future SSCEs to speed up result processing.
Kano State topped the performance chart with 68,159 candidates (5.02%) earning five credits including Maths and English, followed by Lagos with 67,007 (4.93%) and Oyo with 48,742. Gabon recorded no qualifiers.
Shift to Computer-Based Testing
NECO is modernizing its exam process by moving from paper-and-pencil tests to computer-based examinations.
The first phase will begin in selected public and private schools to improve efficiency and align with global assessment standards.
What This Means for Students
These results will shape university admissions and career paths nationwide. The sharp decline in malpractice reflects stronger exam integrity, while special needs accommodations show NECO’s commitment to inclusivity. The reduced subject load will also ease the burden on students.
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