A total of 64,000 candidates from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo participated in the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination for admission into Federal Government Colleges, also known as Unity Colleges. The exam, conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO), took place across various centres on Saturday.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, who monitored the exercise at Model Secondary School in Maitama, Abuja, and Government Secondary School in Tudun Wada, Kaduna, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exam.
“I am very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active,” the minister said. She noted that out of the total 64,000 candidates, 30,000 were male and 34,000 were female, a turnout she described as a strong indication of continued interest in Unity Colleges.
“Nigerians are still eager to have their children in Federal Government Colleges. This turnout shows that parents still value the role of unity schools in national cohesion,” she added.
Also speaking, the Registrar of NECO, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, confirmed that Lagos State had the highest number of registered candidates with over 15,000, while the Republic of Togo recorded the lowest with just 17 candidates.
“We had about 109 candidates from Benin Republic and Togo combined, all Nigerian citizens residing there. This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our unity colleges,” Wushishi said.
He further disclosed that the exam was conducted without any reported challenges.
“Materials arrived on time, the exam started as scheduled, and so far, we’ve seen no issues. This smooth process gives us hope that upcoming senior secondary exams, both WAEC and NECO, will follow suit,” he noted.
The Director of Senior Secondary Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Binta Abdulkadir, stated that admissions into Unity Colleges would be based on merit, state quota, and exigency. She explained that the exigency category primarily accommodates children of civil servants and those with special circumstances.
