By Felix Khanoba
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has taken a major step in extending its global reach with the establishment of a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom.
Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, unveiled the centre in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education), describing it as a milestone in broadening access to education for Nigerians living abroad.
Speaking at the “Education Matters Conference UK 2025,” organised by NECO to raise awareness of its presence in the UK, Wushishi said the new centre would benefit Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who, for various reasons, have been unable to complete secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications.
According to a statement signed by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, Wushishi noted that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s policy on inclusivity and global engagement, providing “credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians residing abroad.”
Highlighting achievements since assuming office in 2021, Wushishi said, “Our commitment to full migration to Computer-Based Examination (CBE) is the single most critical strategic objective for NECO’s future and its standing as a world-class assessment body.”
He further disclosed that NECO’s Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is now conducted in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso. “Our global expansion is accelerating,” he added.
Wushishi described the London centre as a game-changer that would empower Nigerians in the diaspora, boost national pride, and enhance the country’s global educational standing. He also noted that NECO certificates are recognized by top UK universities such as Birmingham City University and Leeds Trinity University, and accepted worldwide — including in the USA, Canada, India, China, and Russia.
In his goodwill message, Minister of State for Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, praised the move, saying it reflects the ministry’s commitment to ensuring access to quality education for every Nigerian child, including those abroad. “Every Nigerian student deserves an education that enables them to compete and thrive globally,” he said.
He described the accreditation of BEP Education as the “first step in a broader strategy to expand NECO’s reach globally, turning Nigerian education into a universally respected and easily accessible brand.”
Dr. John Ibanga, Director of Barnfield Education Ltd and NECO’s UK partner, explained that the conference was organised to launch NECO’s presence in the UK and promote awareness of the London examination centre. He pointed out that many Nigerian children in the UK struggle within the British education system, particularly those unable to secure GCSE qualifications, often leading to limited opportunities and educational disengagement.
He noted that the NECO SSCE Centre would offer these students an alternative pathway, providing recognized qualifications for further education and vocational advancement.
Other speakers lauded NECO’s initiative and pledged to help mobilize support among Nigerians in the UK for the new Computer-Based Examination (CBE) centre.
In a related visit, Prof. Wushishi led a NECO delegation to the Nigerian High Commission in London to formally notify the mission of the centre’s establishment. He explained that the UK, home to a large Nigerian population, represents a strategic hub for educational access.
Wushishi reaffirmed that NECO maintains close collaboration with Nigerian embassies and high commissions in all countries where it operates to coordinate examination activities and public sensitization.
Responding on behalf of the mission, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, Head of Political Affairs, commended the initiative as “a timely and commendable effort consistent with Nigeria’s policy on educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement.”
He assured NECO of the mission’s support in advancing Nigeria’s educational and developmental goals in the United Kingdom.
