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The National Examinations Council (Neco) has established a new SSCE centre in London, marking a major step in its digital transformation and global expansion to improve educational access for Nigerians abroad.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially established a new Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Centre in London, United Kingdom, as part of its strategic global expansion to support Nigerians living abroad. According to a statement from NECO\u2019s acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the London centre was unveiled by the Council\u2019s Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, during the \u201cEducation Matters Conference UK 2025.\u201d The initiative aims to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who have been unable to complete their secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.<\/p>\n
This development represents a key milestone in NECO\u2019s broader agenda to enhance educational access for the Nigerian diaspora. The London centre, established in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education), follows NECO\u2019s existing operations in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, and with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso. Prof. Wushishi emphasised the centre\u2019s role in empowering Nigerians abroad, boosting national pride, and improving Nigeria\u2019s educational standing on the global stage.<\/p>\n
A focal point of NECO\u2019s forward-looking strategy is its commitment to fully migrating to Computer-Based Examination (CBE) formats. Prof. Wushishi described this transition as the “single most critical strategic objective” for positioning NECO as a world-class assessment body. This phased shift aligns closely with the Nigerian Federal Government\u2019s education policy on inclusivity and global engagement, which also envisions all school-based SSCEs being conducted via computer-based testing by 2026. The Ministry of Education, through Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for aligning with this vision, underscoring the importance of ensuring every Nigerian child, at home or in the diaspora, has access to quality education.<\/p>\n
The London centre offers a vital alternative pathway, particularly for Nigerian students who face challenges within the British education system, including difficulties in obtaining required GCSE qualifications. Dr. John Ibanga, Director of Barnfield Education Ltd, pointed out that the new NECO SSCE Centre directly addresses these challenges by providing recognised Nigerian qualifications that facilitate further education and career progression. The NECO certificates are acknowledged by reputable universities such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University in the UK, and prestigious institutions worldwide including those in the USA, Canada, India, China, and Russia.<\/p>\n
In a gesture highlighting the importance of official cooperation and transparency, Prof. Wushishi led a NECO delegation to the Nigerian High Commission in London. There, they briefed mission officials on the new examination centre. Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, Head of Political Affairs at the High Commission, praised NECO\u2019s initiative as timely and consistent with Nigeria\u2019s educational inclusivity policies and diaspora engagement strategies. The Nigerian High Commission pledged full cooperation to support the educational and developmental objectives of NECO in the UK.<\/p>\n
The establishment of this examination centre complements NECO\u2019s ongoing technological advancements, such as acquiring high-speed scanners for efficient exam processing and setting stringent requirements for future CBE centres in Nigeria and abroad. This full migration to computer-based testing, set to begin with the November\/December 2025 SSCE External, aims to enhance the efficiency, credibility, and security of examinations \u2014 addressing challenges historically associated with paper-based formats.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, NECO\u2019s London SSCE Centre exemplifies a significant step in positioning Nigerian education as a universally respected brand, broadening opportunities for Nigerians worldwide while fostering socio-economic development through improved access to education.<\/p>\n