The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its international reach with the establishment of a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom — a move aimed at providing greater access to Nigerian students in the diaspora.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, unveiled the new centre in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education) during the Education Matters Conference UK 2025 held in London.
Speaking at the event, Wushishi said the London centre represents a strategic milestone in NECO’s mission to make credible and inclusive assessments accessible to Nigerians abroad.
“This initiative will create opportunities for Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who, for various reasons, have been unable to complete their secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications,” Wushishi said.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s policy on education inclusivity and global engagement. He added that NECO’s ongoing migration to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) remains its most critical strategic objective, reinforcing its standing as a world-class assessment body.
The Registrar disclosed that NECO now administers its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, with additional centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso.
“Our global expansion is accelerating,” Wushishi said, “and the establishment of this centre in London further cements NECO’s position as a premier African assessment body.”
He also noted that NECO certificates are accepted globally, including by UK institutions such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University, as well as universities in the United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia.
Delivering a goodwill message, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for the milestone, describing it as consistent with the ministry’s mandate to serve every Nigerian child, including those abroad.
“The accreditation of BEP Education is the first step in a broader strategy to expand NECO’s reach to other strategic global locations,” Alausa said. “We see the Nigerian diaspora not just as a community to serve but as a resource to empower.”
Dr. John Ibanga, Director of BEP Education, explained that the conference aimed to raise awareness about NECO’s presence in the UK and the new SSCE centre in London. He noted that many Nigerian children in the UK face challenges within the British education system, especially those unable to achieve required GCSE qualifications.
“The NECO SSCE Centre in London provides an alternative pathway for such students, offering recognized qualifications that open doors to further education and career advancement,” Ibanga said.
Other speakers at the event applauded NECO’s expansion and pledged to promote the initiative within the Nigerian community in the UK.
In a related development, Prof. Wushishi led a NECO delegation on a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commission in London, where he briefed the Mission on the new centre’s establishment and accreditation.
The Head of Political Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, who received the delegation, hailed the initiative as “a timely and commendable effort consistent with Nigeria’s policy on educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement.” He assured that the Mission would collaborate with NECO to advance Nigeria’s educational objectives in the UK.
With this development, NECO joins the growing list of African education bodies expanding their global presence, bringing home-grown qualifications closer to citizens abroad and strengthening Nigeria’s soft power through education
NECO Opens First Examination Centre in the United Kingdom
