NECO honours top performing staff for dedication, resilience
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has attributed the uninterrupted conduct of its examinations despite security challenges across the country to the resilience, dedication and commitment of its workforce.
Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi, stated this on Wednesday in Minna, Niger State, at the council’s 2025 Annual Staff Productivity Award Ceremony, where outstanding staff, retirees, students and other stakeholders were honoured.
Wushishi described NECO personnel as the “army of NECO”, saying their readiness to work round the clock had enabled the council to sustain examination operations even in difficult security environments.
He said the council’s examinations had continued despite Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and sit-at-home orders in some parts of the country.
“During the heydays of Boko Haram, the activities of Boko Haram has never stopped NECO’s examination. Banditry has never stopped NECO examination. Kidnapping has never stopped NECO examination. Sit-at-home order has never stopped NECO examination,” he said.
He said NECO had continued to distribute examination materials and logistics as scheduled, irrespective of whether 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,” Wushishi said.
He said the annual productivity awards were designed not only to celebrate individual achievements but also to motivate employees, improve service delivery and promote continuous improvement across the council.
The registrar said the 2025 awards recognised exceptional contributions by staff and stakeholders across the registrar’s office, departments, zonal directorates, the 36 state offices, liaison and LCT offices, as well as state coordinators and drivers.
He added that the programme also recognised outstanding students who excelled in the council’s examinations.
Wushishi described the students as the ultimate beneficiaries of NECO’s work, saying their achievements reflected hardwork, discipline and perseverance.
He stressed that productivity went beyond completing assigned tasks, noting that it involved delivering quality outcomes with integrity, timeliness and measurable impact.
The registrar urged award recipients to serve as role models and encouraged 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 sustain the smooth conduct of examinations across Nigeria and foreign countries.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, described the ceremony as more than the presentation of certificates and awards, saying it demonstrated recognition of hardwork and commitment to excellence.
Garba said the awards were intended to motivate personnel, boost morale and promote healthy competition that would improve performance and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s examination system.
He stressed that examination credibility depended not only on policies but also on the commitment, competence and integrity of those responsible for implementing them.
He urged NECO personnel to be guided by fairness, transparency and accountability, noting that the outcome of their work directly affected the lives and future opportunities of students.
Among the award recipients was NECO’s Cross River State Coordinator, Miss Ruth Nnamani, who was named Best State Coordinator of the Year.
The Best Excellence Performance awards went to Mrs Tabitha Kopdungha of Plateau State, Mr Garba Sandy of Niger State and Mr Rabiu Yakubu of Kaduna State.
The council also presented Certificates of Service to 55 staff members who retired in 2025 in recognition of their years of loyalty, commitment and dedication.
Those honoured included the retired Director of Registration, Mrs Hajara Ali; Director, South-South Zone, Mr Irem Obiahu; Director of Test Development, Mr Michael Okei; and Acting Director, South-East Zone, Mr Samuel Adiniyi.
Awards were also presented to the six zonal directors, the FCT Liaison Office and coordinators of NECO’s 36 state offices and Abuja.
In the Senior School Certificate Examination category, Akai Bernice Kuyet and Eke Felix Emenike, both of School Sense, Barnawa, Kaduna State, won the female and male student awards respectively.
For the Basic Education Certificate Examination, Miss Michael Daniela Chiamaka of Christland High School, Ikeja, Lagos, and Mrs Salihu Amir Umar of Kadwel International Schools, Kaduna, emerged winners in the female and male categories respectively.
The National Gifted Examination awards went to Master Ezeundu Samuel Akachukwu of God’s Wisdom International School, Anambra State, in the male category, while Ubochi Akunnaya of Diamond Special Schools, Owerri, won the female category.
Alocha Naeto Daniel of Remmon Home Academy won the male National Common Entrance award, while Adenuga Monsurat Feyisara of Ar-Rahman Montessori School, Ojota, emerged winner in the female category.
The NECO Staff Productivity Awards is an annual programme established to recognise exceptional contributions by staff and stakeholders while promoting morale, motivation and productivity.
The council said publicly recognising and rewarding exemplary performance remained an important strategy for improving the quality and effectiveness of its examination and educational services.