The Federal Government has intensified efforts to reform Nigeria’s examination system, unveiling plans to fully transition the National Examinations Council (NECO) to Computer-Based Examinations (CBE) as part of a broader strategy to eliminate examination malpractice by 2027.
The government disclosed that reforms already introduced through technology-driven examination processes have led to nearly a 90 per cent reduction in examination malpractice across centres where digital systems have been deployed.
The commitment was reaffirmed during NECO’s Silver Jubilee celebration held in Abuja, where top government officials, education stakeholders and administrators reviewed the council’s progress over the last 25 years and outlined fresh reforms aimed at strengthening credibility, transparency and global competitiveness in Nigeria’s education sector.
Representing Vice President Kashim Shettima at the event, Barrister Bashir Maidugu described credible examinations as a critical pillar for national development, stressing that the integrity of assessment systems directly impacts the quality of human capital and national growth.
“Credible examinations are fundamental to national development and educational advancement. NECO’s embrace of digital innovation is helping to strengthen examination security, improve operational efficiency and restore confidence in the nation’s assessment system,” Maidugu said.
He noted that the Federal Government remains committed to supporting reforms that promote merit, accountability and equal opportunities for students across the country.
Speaking during the anniversary celebration, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced that NECO would commence full Computer-Based Examinations this year, describing the move as a major milestone in the ongoing modernisation of Nigeria’s educational assessment framework.
According to the minister, the introduction of full CBE would enable real-time monitoring of examinations, faster detection of malpractice, improved data management and more efficient administration of examinations nationwide.
“The era of widespread examination malpractice must come to an end. Through the deployment of technology and full Computer-Based Examinations, we are building a system that is transparent, credible and aligned with global best practices,” Alausa said.
He added that the government’s target is to eliminate examination fraud completely by 2027 through stricter monitoring systems, digital surveillance and institutional reforms.
“We are determined to restore integrity to public examinations and ensure that certificates earned by Nigerian students are respected globally. Technology will continue to play a central role in achieving that objective,” the minister stated.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the reforms are also designed to expand access to examinations, improve service delivery and enhance the efficiency of educational institutions across the country.
Officials at the event noted that the adoption of digital systems has significantly reduced cases of impersonation, question paper leakage, result manipulation and other forms of examination fraud in centres already operating computer-based assessments.
NECO’s Silver Jubilee celebration also served as a platform to reflect on the examination body’s achievements since its establishment, including the expansion of examination access nationwide, improvements in result processing and efforts to improve the credibility of public examinations in Nigeria.