Okpebholo’s Edo emerges tops in NECO as Mayaki hails Governor’s education reforms
Edo State has received the National Examinations Council (NECO) Award of Excellence following its emergence as the state with the third highest percentage of candidates who obtained five credits and above in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal examinations since the council’s inception.
The award was presented at a ceremony held at the President Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja.
NECO said the award recognises state governments and institutions that have demonstrated consistent excellence in students’ academic performance and participation in its examinations.
The examination body noted that the category of award highlights measurable and data-driven achievements, including high pass rates, expanded access to examinations and sustained investment in the education sector.
Governor Monday Okpebholo was represented at the event by the Director-General, Edo State Abuja Liaison Office, Hon. Barrister Peter Abulu, who received the award on behalf of the state governor.
Abulu described the recognition as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to repositioning the education sector and improving learning outcomes across the state.
Reacting to the development, the Country Director, Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa, Mr. John Mayaki, hailed Governor Okpebholo for sustaining reforms aimed at improving educational standards in Edo State.
Mayaki said the recognition by NECO further affirmed the state’s growing reputation as one of the country’s leading centres of academic excellence.
According to him, the government’s investments in school infrastructure, recruitment of teachers and improved support for public institutions were already yielding positive results.
He urged stakeholders in the education sector to continue supporting the administration’s efforts to ensure Edo students remain competitive nationally and globally.
The NECO award is the second major recognition received by the Okpebholo administration in the education sector in less than two years in office.
In February, Governor Okpebholo won the New Telegraph Newspapers Governor of the Year Award in Education following what organisers described as landmark reforms recorded within his first year in office.
The reforms included the construction of over 100 schools across the state, recruitment of 6,000 teachers and an increase in monthly subvention of the state-owned Ambrose Alli university, Ekpoma, from N41 million to N500 million and Edo University, Iyamho from N100 million to N250 million monthly.
