The Government of Kano State has received an Award of Excellence from the National Examinations Council (NECO) after emerging as the Second Best Outstanding State in the sponsorship and registration of candidates for the Senior School Certificate Examination for two consecutive academic sessions of 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
The award was presented during the grand finale of NECO’s 25th Anniversary Celebration held at the International Conference Centre Abuja, bringing together education stakeholders, policymakers, and dignitaries from across the country to commemorate the council’s contributions to educational development and examination integrity in Nigeria.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Kano State Government, the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, described the recognition as a reflection of the state government’s sustained commitment to expanding access to quality education and supporting students through examination sponsorship initiatives.
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According to him, the achievement demonstrates Kano State’s determination to ensure that no qualified student is denied the opportunity to sit for examinations because of financial difficulties.
“This award is a result of hard work, perseverance, and the state government’s resolve to prioritize education as the foundation for sustainable development in Kano society,” the commissioner said.
Musbahu Aminu Yakasai, the director public relations and englightement, Kano state ministry of Education disclosed this in a statement sent to GLOBAL TRACKER in Kano at the weekend.
According to the statement, “For two consecutive years, Kano State has mobilized resources to sponsor and register thousands of children for NECO examinations, and the state will not relent.”
Makoda dedicated the award to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, teachers, students, and education officials whose contributions, he said, made the achievement possible.
He further explained that the recognition aligns with the administration’s broader education reform agenda, including the state’s education emergency recovery initiatives aimed at improving learning outcomes, educational infrastructure, and access to schooling, particularly for adolescent girls and vulnerable youth across the state.
The commissioner also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to maintaining high standards in candidate sponsorship, registration, and compliance with examination ethics governing NECO conduct nationwide.
The award comes amid ongoing reforms in Kano’s education sector, where authorities have continued to expand investments in public schools, teacher support, examination access, and youth development as part of efforts to reposition the state’s education system.