The National Examinations Council (NECO) on Wednesday released the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE–Internal) results, 54 days after the conclusion of the last paper.

Announcing the results at a press briefing in Minna, Niger State, NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, said a total of 1,358,339 candidates sat for the June/July examination. Of this number, 818,492 candidates, representing 60.26 percent, scored five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

He further disclosed that 1,144,496 candidates, representing 84.26 percent, obtained five credits and above irrespective of English and Mathematics.

Providing a gender breakdown, Wushishi said:

Candidates who registered: 1,367,210 (685,514 males, 681,696 females).

Candidates who sat: 1,358,339 (680,292 males, 678,047 females).

The examination was conducted nationwide from June 16 to July 25, 2025.

On special needs candidates, the registrar revealed that 1,622 candidates were accommodated, including 941 with hearing impairments (586 males, 355 females) and 191 with visual impairments (111 males, 80 females).

Wushishi noted a significant reduction in examination malpractice, with 3,878 cases recorded in 2025 compared to 10,094 in 2024, a 61.58 percent decline.

He, however, revealed that 38 schools in 13 states were implicated in mass cheating and would face sanctions after appearing before the Council. In addition, nine supervisors were recommended for blacklisting for various infractions, including aiding malpractice, lateness, unruly conduct, and insubordination.

Wushishi also highlighted disruptions in Adamawa State, where communal clashes in Lamorde Local Government affected examinations in eight schools between July 7 and July 25, disrupting 13 subjects and 29 papers. NECO is currently working with the state government to reschedule examinations for the affected schools.

In terms of state performance, Kano led with 68,159 candidates (5.02%) obtaining five credits and above, including English and Mathematics. Lagos followed closely with 67,007 candidates (4.93%), while Oyo came third with 48,742 candidates.

At the bottom of the table was Gabon centre, where no candidate achieved five credits and above, including English and Mathematics.

The registrar also announced that NECO will henceforth conduct examinations in 38 subjects under the revised curriculum, a move expected to shorten the waiting period for results.

In line with global standards, NECO is transitioning from the Paper-Pencil Test (PPT) model to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) model. Several private and public schools participated in the pilot phase of the transition this year.