By FUNMILAYO ADEYEMI

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has established a new Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Centre in London, United Kingdom.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday by the acting Director, Information and Public Relations of the council, Azeez Sani.

Sani said the initiative aimed to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians living abroad, especially 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 Wushishi, who unveiled the centre during the “Education Matters Conference UK 2025”, as saying that the initiative was organised to sensitise stakeholders about NECO’s presence in the United Kingdom.

Wushishi said the new centre was established in collaboration with Barnfield Education Ltd., London.

He explained that the London centre represented a strategic expansion to support Nigerians in the diaspora, in line with the Federal Government’s education policy on inclusivity and global engagement.

He emphasised that NECO’s mission was to make quality education and assessment accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of location.

“Our commitment to full migration to Computer-Based Examination (CBE) is the single most critical strategic objective for NECO’s future and its standing as a world-class assessment body,” Wushishi stated.

He disclosed that NECO’s SSCE was currently administered in seven countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso.

According to the registrar, the establishment of the London centre offered far-reaching benefits such as empowering the Nigerian diaspora, elevating national pride, enhancing global standing, and fostering socio-economic gains through education.

Wushishi also noted that NECO certificates were widely recognised by prestigious universities such as Birmingham City University and Leads Trinity University in the UK as well as institutions in the USA, 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 mandate to ensure educational access for every Nigerian child, including those in the diaspora.

“The Federal Ministry of Education views the diaspora not just as a community to serve, but as a resource to be empowered.

"Every Nigerian student deserves an education that enables them to compete and thrive globally,” Alausa said.

He added that accrediting BEP Education marked the first step in a broader strategy to expand NECO’s reach globally, positioning Nigerian education as a universally respected and accessible brand.

Also, the Director of BEP Education, Dr John Ibanga, highlighted that many Nigerian students in the UK face challenges within the British education system, particularly those who struggle to attain required GCSE qualifications.

The new NECO SSCE Centre, he said, provided an alternative pathway for such students, offering recognised qualifications for further education and career advancement.

In a related development, Wushishi also led a NECO delegation on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commission in London.

At the event, he briefed officials on the establishment of the examination centre, noting that NECO maintained official communication with Nigerian embassies and high commissions in all countries where it operates, to ensure coordination and transparency.

Responding on behalf of the mission, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, Head of Political Affairs, commended NECO for the “timely and commendable initiative,” describing it as 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. (NAN)