The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced the creation of a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom, as part of its global expansion initiative to offer credible assessment opportunities to Nigerians in the diaspora.
Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, who unveiled the centre during the Education Matters Conference UK 2025, said the initiative was developed in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd.
In a statement on Sunday by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, the Registrar said: “The initiative aims to provide opportunities for Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who, for various reasons, have been unable to complete secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.
“Our objective is to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians residing abroad in line with the Federal Government’s education policy on inclusivity and global engagement.”
The NECO chief described the new Senior School Certificate Examination centre as a strategic step toward extending NECO’s global footprint, adding that the Council now administers examinations in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso.
Wushishi noted that the London centre would empower Nigerians abroad, promote national pride, and strengthen the global recognition of NECO certificates, which are already accepted by several UK universities, including Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University, as well as institutions in the United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for the initiative, describing it as a crucial step toward ensuring that “no Nigerian child, at home or abroad, is left behind.”
Alausa said the move aligned with the Federal Ministry of Education’s goal of leveraging the diaspora as a vital educational resource.
The statement added that the Director of BEP Education and NECO’s UK partner, Dr John Ibanga, said the new centre would serve as an alternative pathway for Nigerian students in the UK who face challenges within the British education system, particularly those unable to obtain the General Certificate of Secondary Education.
Ibanga said: “Many Nigerian children encounter barriers in the UK system that limit their progression.
“This new NECO SSCE Centre provides a recognised alternative for both young learners and adults seeking academic or vocational advancement.”
During a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commission in London, the statement noted that the Registrar briefed the Mission on the establishment and accreditation of the new centre, stressing that the UK remains a strategic hub for expanding educational access to Nigerians abroad.
Responding, the Head of Political Affairs at the Mission, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, praised NECO’s move as a “timely and commendable effort” consistent with Nigeria’s policy on educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement.
Abu-Obe added: “The Mission will collaborate with NECO to advance Nigeria’s educational and developmental objectives in the United Kingdom.”
