By ABDULRAZAQ MAGAJI

In a country where public institutions are too often remembered for their failings rather than their achievements, it is both refreshing and necessary to pause and celebrate institutions that continue to justify their existence through resilience, reform, and relevance. One such institution deserving of loud applause is the National Examinations Council, fondly known as NECO.

For 25 years, NECO has stood as one of the pillars of Nigeria’s educational assessment system, helping millions of young Nigerians pursue academic dreams and career aspirations. Established in 1999 as a homegrown alternative to foreign-dominated examination structures, NECO has grown from a modest national body into a critical institution whose certificates command recognition across Nigeria and beyond.

When NECO was founded, many doubted its potentials to build, maintain and sustain credibility and independence in a society where examination malpractice is deeply entrenched. Critics feared that a locally managed examination body would become vulnerable to compromise and political manipulation. After initial hiccups, NECO has, over the years consistently demonstrated that Nigerian institutions can indeed work when professionalism, commitment, and patriotic purpose are allowed to flourish.

Perhaps one of NECO’s greatest achievements is accessibility. Every year, countless students from rural communities, low-income households, and underserved regions rely on NECO examinations as pathways to higher education and self-improvement. In many parts of northern Nigeria, especially where poverty and insecurity threaten educational opportunities, NECO has remained a beacon of hope for students determined to secure a future through learning rather than despair.

Its relatively affordable registration fees compared to some alternatives have also made education more inclusive. At a time when inflation and economic hardship weigh heavily on Nigerian families, institutions that reduce barriers to education deserve commendation rather than criticism.

Another reason NECO deserves celebration is its contribution to national ownership and identity in education. For decades, Nigerians depended heavily on externally influenced examination systems that did not always reflect local realities and educational priorities. NECO changed that narrative by giving Nigeria greater control over its assessment framework while still striving to maintain international standards.

Importantly, NECO has not remained stagnant. The council has increasingly embraced digital innovation in examination registration, result processing, and anti-malpractice measures. In an era where technology determines institutional relevance, NECO’s gradual modernization efforts deserve recognition. The fight against examination malpractice remains difficult, but the council’s deployment of improved monitoring systems and tighter supervisory mechanisms reflects institutional seriousness.

Indeed, no examination body anywhere in the world operates in a perfect environment. Nigeria’s educational ecosystem itself is burdened by inadequate funding, teacher shortages, infrastructural decay, insecurity, and uneven access to quality learning. Yet NECO continues to function under these pressures while conducting nationwide examinations involving millions of candidates annually. That alone is no small administrative achievement.

Beyond logistics, NECO also represents an important symbol of national confidence. Institutions matter because they shape public trust. When citizens see a Nigerian institution successfully organize large-scale examinations year after year, issue credible certificates, and adapt to changing realities, it sends a powerful message that local capacity should never be underestimated.

Still, celebrating NECO’s silver jubilee should not mean pretending that challenges do not exist. In this regard, occasional reports of malpractice, operational bottlenecks and concerns over infrastructure, must continue to receive urgent attention. Excellence, as NECO has shown over the past two decades and half, is not a destination but a continuous process of reform and improvement.

The next 25 years should therefore focus on strengthening credibility, expanding digital security, improving staff welfare, deepening transparency, and enhancing international recognition of NECO qualifications. Government support must also go beyond rhetoric. Educational institutions cannot deliver miracles without sustained investment. The need for a printing press for NECO should be a matter of priority.

Equally important is the need for society itself to support integrity in examinations. Parents, schools, and communities must stop glorifying “miracle centres” and shortcut culture. Examination malpractice is not merely an institutional problem; it is a societal crisis that undermines merit, competence, and national development. NECO can only be as strong as the ethical environment within which it operates.

As Nigeria searches for pathways to sustainable development, education remains the most reliable bridge between poverty and opportunity. Institutions like NECO therefore occupy a strategic position in shaping the nation’s future human capital.

Twenty-five years after its establishment, NECO has earned more than criticism and cynicism. Essentially, it has earned recognition and celebration. So here’s 25 hearty cheers to NECO, under its Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, for enduring, evolving, and continuing to carry the hopes and aspirations of millions of Nigerian students on its shoulders.

In a nation hungry for functional institutions, the story of NECO thus far is no small accomplishment.

•Magaji magaji778@gmail.com writes from Abuja.

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