Kano Tops 2025 NECO SSCE Results as Governor Yusuf’s Education Reforms Pay Off

Kano State has emerged as the best-performing state in the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE Internal) conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), a feat widely attributed to the ongoing reforms of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the education sector.

Announcing the results in Minna, Niger State, NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, revealed that a total of 1,358,339 candidates sat for the June/July examination. Of this number, 818,492 candidates (60.26%) obtained five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics, while 1,144,496 candidates (84.26%) secured five credits and above irrespective of the two core subjects.

Kano Leads Nationwide in NECO 2025 Performance

Prof. Wushishi disclosed that Kano State topped the national chart with 68,159 candidates (5.02% of the total) earning five credits including English and Mathematics. Lagos State followed with 67,007 (4.93%), while Oyo State came third with 48,742 candidates.

Governor Yusuf: “Our Reforms Are Bearing Fruit”

Reacting to the achievement, Governor Yusuf hailed the performance as evidence that his administration’s 2024 declaration of a state of emergency on education is yielding measurable results.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Tofa, the governor highlighted the sector’s priority status in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets, where education received the single largest allocation.

Key reforms under his administration include:

• Free uniforms and learning materials for pupils.

• Rehabilitation of dilapidated classrooms.

• Recruitment and training of teachers.

• Provision of classroom furniture.

• Increased funding for tertiary institutions.

• Scholarships for deserving students.

• Special programmes promoting girl-child education.

Governor Yusuf stated:

“This outstanding performance by our students proves Kano is on the right path. Education remains our top priority, and we will continue working tirelessly to ensure no child in Kano is left behind.”

The governor further noted that his government allocated 31% of the 2025 state budget to education, fulfilling his campaign pledge to revamp the sector from what he described as years of “decay and neglect.”

Education Recovery in Motion

According to the statement, the milestone reflects the impact of the Education Recovery Plan introduced in 2024, which aligns with the government’s broader goal of transforming education into a cornerstone of sustainable development in Kano State.