The National Examinations Council (NECO) has established a new Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Centre in London, United Kingdom.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations of the Council, Mr. Azeez Sani.
Sani said the initiative aims to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians living abroad, particularly those who have been unable to complete their secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.
He quoted the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, as announcing the establishment of the centre during the Education Matters Conference UK 2025. The event was organised to sensitise stakeholders about NECO’s growing presence in the United Kingdom.
According to Wushishi, the London centre was established in collaboration with Barnfield Education Ltd., London.
He explained that the initiative represents a strategic expansion designed to support Nigerians in the diaspora, in line with the Federal Government’s education policy on inclusivity and global engagement.
“Our mission is to make quality education and assessment accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their location,” Wushishi said.
He added that NECO’s full migration to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) remains its most critical strategic objective for maintaining its status as a world-class assessment body.
Wushishi disclosed that NECO’s SSCE is currently administered in seven countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso.
He noted that the establishment of the London centre offers multiple benefits — including empowering the Nigerian diaspora, boosting national pride, enhancing global recognition, and fostering socio-economic development through education.
The registrar further stated that NECO certificates are widely recognised by reputable institutions such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University in the United Kingdom, as well as universities in the United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia.
In a goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for the initiative, describing it as aligned with the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring educational access for every Nigerian child, both at home and abroad.
“The Federal Ministry of Education views the diaspora not just as a community to serve, but as a resource to empower. Every Nigerian student deserves an education that enables them to compete and thrive globally,” Alausa said.
He added that accrediting Barnfield Education Ltd. marked the first step in a broader strategy to expand NECO’s global reach and strengthen Nigeria’s education brand internationally.
Also speaking, the Director of BEP Education, Dr. John Ibanga, said many Nigerian students in the UK face challenges navigating the British education system, particularly those struggling to meet the required GCSE standards.
He explained that the new NECO SSCE Centre provides an alternative pathway for such students, offering recognised qualifications for further education and career advancement.
In a related development, Prof. Wushishi led a NECO delegation on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commission in London, where he briefed officials on the establishment of the new centre.
He noted that NECO maintains official communication with Nigerian embassies and high commissions in all countries where it operates to ensure coordination, transparency, and accountability.
Responding on behalf of the mission, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, Head of Political Affairs, commended NECO for what he described as a “timely and commendable initiative,” consistent with Nigeria’s policy on educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement.
Abu-Obe assured NECO of the Mission’s full cooperation in advancing Nigeria’s educational and developmental objectives in the United Kingdom.
