The National Examinations Council (NECO) has credited the resilience and commitment of its workforce for the uninterrupted conduct of examinations despite security challenges, including Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and sit-at-home orders.
Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, stated this in Minna, Niger State, at the Council’s 2025 Annual Staff Productivity Award Ceremony.
Wushishi described NECO employees as the “army of NECO”, saying their commitment had enabled the council to sustain its examination operations even in difficult security environments.
According to him, the nature of NECO’s work requires its personnel to remain constantly alert and ready to execute their responsibilities, much like the military.
“During the heyday of Boko Haram, the activities of Boko Haram have never stopped NECO’s examination. Banditry has never stopped NECO examinations. Kidnapping has never stopped NECO examinations. Sit-at-home order has never stopped NECO examinations.”
He said NECO had continued to distribute examination logistics as scheduled, regardless of whether the operations were required during the day or at night.
“These are what the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria do during their activities or any time they are detailed to carry out security functions. So, the army of NECO, I salute you,” he said.
The registrar said the annual productivity awards were not merely for celebrating individual achievements, but were also designed to motivate staff, improve service delivery and promote continuous improvement across the council.
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He said the 2025 awards recognised exceptional contributions by staff and stakeholders while fostering healthy competition and a culture of better performance.
Wushishi explained that the awards covered retirees, hardworking and dedicated staff across the Registrar’s Office, departments, zonal directorates, 36 state offices, the Liaison and LCT offices, as well as outstanding state coordinators and drivers.
Other categories included awards for excellent performance in various areas and special recognition for the best-performing male and female students in the 2025 examinations.
He described the students as the ultimate beneficiaries of NECO’s work, saying their performance reflected hard work, discipline and perseverance.
Wushishi said the council remained committed to improving its processes, strengthening accountability and maintaining the credibility of its examinations.
He stressed that productivity was not merely about completing assigned tasks, but about delivering quality outcomes with integrity, timeliness and measurable impact.
The registrar urged award recipients to become models for other workers and called on all NECO personnel to embrace perseverance, teamwork, unity and continuous self-improvement.
He also acknowledged the contribution of stakeholders to the council’s operations, saying their collaboration had helped NECO meet expectations and sustain the smooth conduct of examinations across Nigeria and foreign countries.
Wushishi congratulated the awardees and retirees, saying their contributions had enhanced the council’s reputation and demonstrated the importance of NECO to the Nigerian education system.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Abdullahi Idris Garba, said the ceremony went beyond the presentation of certificates and awards, describing it as a demonstration of recognition and commitment aimed at encouraging excellence, hard work, discipline and continuous improvement within NECO.
Garba said the annual productivity awards were designed to recognise significant contributions by staff and other stakeholders, motivate personnel, boost morale and promote healthy competition that would ultimately improve performance and strengthen confidence in the country’s examination system.
He stressed that the credibility of examinations depended not only on policies but largely on the commitment, competence and integrity of the people responsible for implementing them.
He said the conduct of examinations must be anchored on the highest standards of integrity, prudence and efficiency, while commending the council’s efforts to improve productivity and strengthen operational readiness.
He urged NECO staff to allow the recognition of outstanding performance to inspire greater productivity and stronger results, stressing that their work should be guided by fairness, transparency and accountability because its outcomes affect the lives and future opportunities of students.
On the award, NECO honoured its Cross River State Coordinator, Miss Ruth Nnamani, as the Best State Coordinator of the Year, while the award for Best Excellence Performance went to Mrs Tabitha Kopdungha from Plateau State, Mr Garba Sandy from Niger State and Mr Rabiu Yakubu from Kaduna State.
The exam body also conferred certificates of service on 55 retired staff members for 2025 to honour their commitment and contributions and recognise their years of loyalty and dedication to service.
Some of the awardees in that category include the retired Director of Registration, Mrs Hajara Ali; Director of South South Zone, Mr Irem Obiahu; Director of Test Development, Mr Michael Okei; and the Acting Director of South East Zone, Mr Samuel Adiniyi.
Awards were also given to all six zonal directors of NECO and the FCT Liaison Office, as well as all the coordinators of the 36 state offices and Abuja.
In the Senior School Certificate Examination, the award went to Akai Bernice Kuyet and Eke Felix Emenike, both of School Sense Barnawa, Kaduna State, in the female and male categories, respectively.
Miss Michael Daniela Chiamaka of Christland High School, Ikeja, Lagos, and Mrs Salihu Amir Umar of Kadwel International Schools, Kaduna, won the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) awards in the female and male categories, respectively.
The National Gifted Examination (NGE) award went to Master Ezeundu Samuel Akachukwu of God’s Wisdom Int’l School in Anambra State in the male category, while the female category went to Ubochi Akunnaya of Diamond Special Schools, Owerri.
Alocha Naeto Daniel of Remmon Home Academy won the National Common Entrance award in the male category, while Adenuga Monsurat Feyisara of Ar-Rahman Montessori School, Ojota, won the award in the female category.
The NECO Staff Productivity Awards are an annual programme that recognises and celebrates exceptional contributions by staff of the National Examinations Council (NECO) and other stakeholders.
The programme aims to boost morale, motivation and productivity, with categories for excellence in teaching, administration, research and innovation.
NECO said the awards were intended to inspire healthy competition and continuous improvement, fostering a culture of excellence in NECO and the nation at large.
According to the examination body, it firmly believes that publicly acknowledging and rewarding exemplary and exceptional performance by staff and stakeholders is a veritable strategy for enhancing the quality and effectiveness of its educational services in Nigeria.
